Blind Tasting (95 Point Rated) Chardonnay Winner

We don’t do a lot of (enough) blind tastings, especially Chardonnays.  So I am excited to share the results of my latest tasting group endeavor. The lineup included some well-known and highly-regarded and high-scoring wines. Our group of 14  tasted and reviewed the wines twice, with almost identical results.

The lineup:

  • DuMOL Chloe (95 RP)
  • DuMOL “Estate” (96 RP)
  • Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce (95 RP)
  • Talley “Rosemary” (94 RP)
  • Saxon Brown “Durrell” (94+ RP)
  • Radio-Coteau  “Wingtine” (96 RP)
  • Hudson (93 AG)
  • Littorai “Charles Heintz” (96 RP)
  • Joseph Phelps “Pastorale” (94 RP)
  • Bevan “Ritchie” (95 RP)
  • Tyler “W Block” (95 AG)

The Winner –

  1. Tyler “W Block” with 8 First, 5 Second and 1 Third Place votes
  2. DuMol Choe received 4 First, 3 Second and 4 Third Place votes
  3. Bevan Ritchie received 2 First, 4 Second and 4 Third place votes

Tyler 2014 Chardonnay “W Block” Bien Nacido, Santa Barbara
Retail 62.00 – GGWC 59.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code TYLER during checkout

Anthony Galloni 95 Points: “One of the highlights in the range, the 2014 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard – W Block exudes class. Lemon confit, chamomile, butter, orange blossom and lightly honeyed notes all flesh out effortlessly. The Bien Nacido is an especially creamy, voluptuous Chardonnay within the Tyler range. Today it is particularly expressive. The W Block emerges from old vines planted in 1973.”

Winemaker Notes: Dense and powerful, full of lemon curd, anise and black tea. Well structured with bright acidity and minerality. 225 cases produced; 12.7% alc. 2014 the earliest vintage of the the decade so far. From the eastern edge of the Bien Nacido property, here the vines grown in the most shale laden gravel soils. These well drained, mineral soils along with the fact that the vines are planted on their own roots back in 1973 always produce the most powerful chardonnay. We were down 30% overall, but super intense, wines with good acidity.”

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