Full Review

Comartin Cellars

Comartin Cellars
2019 R-Bar-R Ranch, Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.9% RS: <1%
92 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$49

Comartin Cellars
2019 R-Bar-R Ranch, Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.9% RS: <1%
Golden yellow color. Aromas of bananas foster, baked nectarine, bread pudding, vanilla creme, and beurre blanc with a velvety, crisp, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an effortless, interesting, medium-length spiced apple compote, sweet mincemeat pie, and coconut flakes on pineapple finish with moderate oak flavor. A rich, buttery Chardonnay with an elegant tone.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: bananas foster, baked nectarine, bread pudding, vanilla creme, and beurre blanc
Taste Flavor: spiced apple compote, sweet mincemeat pie, and coconut flakes on pineapple
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A rich, buttery Chardonnay with an elegant tone.

The Producer

Porterhouse Winery

The Producer
2435 Briarwood Dr.
San Jose, CA 95125
USA
1 408-656-1230

Their Portfolio

89 Christeni Vineyards 2018 Parker McCollum - To Be Loved By You, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 14.4% (USA) $40.00.
91 Christeni Vineyards 2014 Anderson Red Blend, Napa Valley 14.6% (USA) $42.00.
90 Christeni Vineyards 2017 Parker McCollum - Probably Wrong, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast 14.4% (USA) $45.00.
86 Christeni Vineyards 2020 Parker McCollum - To Be Loved By You, Sauvignon Blanc, El Dorado 12.8% (USA) $30.00.
BR Christeni Vineyards 2019 Parker McCollum - To Be Loved By You, Central Coast 13.8% (USA) $30.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Christeni Vineyards 2019 Parker McCollum - To Be Loved By You, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 14.4% (USA) $45.00.
94 Comartin Cellars 2018 R-Bar-R Ranch Single Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 14.2% (USA) $56.00.
92 Comartin Cellars 2018 Cuvée Cassidy, Santa Ynez Valley 14.4% (USA) $44.00.
92 Comartin Cellars 2019 R-Bar-R Ranch, Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 13.9% (USA) $49.00.
91 Comartin Cellars 2020 R-Bar-R Ranch Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 14.4% (USA) $64.00.
88 Comartin Cellars 2021 R-Bar-R Ranch, Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 14.4% (USA) $64.00.
90 JDR Wines 2013 Sonoma Valley 15.5% (USA) $45.00.
94 Porterhouse Winery 2016 Reserve Lot Red Blend, Santa Ynez Valley 14.4% (USA) $60.00.
91 Porterhouse Winery 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley 14.4% (USA) $85.00.
92 Porterhouse Winery 2017 Reserve Black Label Red Blend, Santa Ynez Valley 14.4% (USA) $55.00.
92 Porterhouse Winery 2018 Black Label Reserve Red Blend, Santa Ynez Valley 14.4% (USA) $60.00.
92 Porterhouse Winery 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley 14.4% (USA) $95.00.
91 Porterhouse Winery 2018 Blackridge Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 14.5% (USA) $70.00.
93 Porterhouse Winery 2016 Creekside Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $58.00.
90 Porterhouse Winery 2019 Blackridge Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 14.5% (USA) $70.00.
93 Porterhouse Winery 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.4% (USA) $100.00.
92 Porterhouse Winery 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.5% (USA) $100.00.
92 Porterhouse Winery 2019 Blackridge Vineyard Reserve Black Label Red Blend, Santa Cruz Mountains 13.9% (USA) $90.00.
91 Porterhouse Winery 2019 Blackridge Vineyard Black Label Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 13.9% (USA) $90.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.