Aubert Chardonnay Sonoma Coast CIX Vineyard 2015

100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The 2015 Chardonnay CIX Estate has the most alluring, singular, beguiling nose so that it cannot fail to impress. Revealing notes of candied ginger, nutmeg, aniseed, apple pie and pear tart, it delivers a full-on bombastic, richly fruited and decadently creamy palate, beautifully contrasted by a seamless line of freshness, finishing multilayered and with epic persistence. Wow. Drink: 2017-2030. (Oct 2017)"

96 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Mark Aubert's 2015 Chardonnay CIX Vineyard is plush, rich and inviting. Here, the interplay of reductive aromatics and layered textures is compelling. Like the Sugar Shack, the CIX is planted with the Montrachet clone, and yet there is quite a bit more subtlety and nuance here. Drink: 2020-2025." (Mar 2017)

95 points Wine Spectator: "A classy effort that emphasizes Chardonnay’s elegance and finesse. Begins with seductive aromas of honeydew melon and spicy, creamy oak, followed by tiers of fig, apricot and pear. Ends with a seamless aftertaste that turns graceful and refined. Drink now through 2021. 860 cases made. (6/30/17)"

Producer notes: "The 2015 CIX Estate Chardonnay conveys our ideal marriage of Sonoma Coast and Grand Cru White Burgundy. CIX’s ethereal blend of subtleties and power are tightly wound into one. Please note the greenish hue on the edge of the glass, which is indicative of the health of the wine. Initially, I find pure aromatics of white jasmine flowers, wet stones and a strong sense of place. With time in the glass, the wine evolves to showcase more nectarines and citrus, but the mineral tones continue to be the driving feature of this wine. The palate is pure and polished with vin-de-garde acidity. This is Chardonnay in ludicrous mode. The 2015 CIX is built to age with its combination of power, tension and structure, and will cellar for the next 10 to 15 years. The wine is slightly hazy showing our commitment to minimal intervention winemaking."