99 points James Suckling: "Pie crust with brioche, lemon meringue, lime leaf, and blackboard chalk. Very aromatic. Full-bodied, with terrific structure and incredibly complex on the finish with seaweed and umami. Sea breeze, iodine and oyster finish. Superb wine. Drink or hold. (12/11/22)"
97-99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL was tasted as a tank sample, due to be bottled in December 2022. It opens with compelling struck flint and wet slate wafts before going full-throttle with grapefruit, green mango, and pineapple scents, leading to suggestions of lime and yuzu zest. The full-bodied palate is powerful, muscular, and dense with a creamy texture and a fantastically long honey and hazelnut-laced finish. It is named after one of Sonoma’s most reputable vineyard managers, Ulises Valdez Sr. (UV), who passed away recently. The vineyard is situated on Stoetz Lane (SL), only six miles from the Pacific Ocean, up on the hills around Graton and Occidental. Aubert and Valdez Sr. collaborated on the planting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here. Drink: 2023-2036. (9/21/22)"
96-98 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL comes from largely Goldridge soils in parcels owned and managed by the Valdez family (UV being the initials of Ulises Valdez, Aubert's frequent vineyard collaborator, who died in 2018). There are 2,000 cases of this elixir, which offers up classic notes of toasted hazelnuts, white peaches and citrus zest. It's full-bodied, rich and opulent yet contained and controlled, with great silky length and energy. Aubert describes the oak thusly: "The oak is perfect. It just kisses you with a bit of vanilla and cookie dough." The wine is certainly delicious, and thinking back on it, I wonder if my rating is a bit conservative. Drink: 2023-2035. (12/30/22)"
95-97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is one of the more exotic wines in the range. Initially a bit ethereal, the 2021 opens beautifully on the mid-palate and finish, where it shows tremendous breadth and notable mineral intensity. The UV-SL is not quite as obvious as some of the other wines in this range, but its pedigree is evident. There's real density here, and tons of class. Drink: 2025-2036. (Jan 2023)"
Producer notes: "The 2021 UV-SL is a testament to the complexity and grace achievable with heritage clones planted in a wild, mountainous terrain. Savory and dense, the wine is a kaleidoscope of white tea, pastry shell, and a flinty mineral edge. The wine effortlessly dances between bright, crystalline florals and orchard fruits, and a serious, saline frame that evolves in the glass to something much greater than the sum of its parts. The purity and length of its composition will effortlessly carry the wine in the cellar for the coming 10 to 15 years."
97-99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL was tasted as a tank sample, due to be bottled in December 2022. It opens with compelling struck flint and wet slate wafts before going full-throttle with grapefruit, green mango, and pineapple scents, leading to suggestions of lime and yuzu zest. The full-bodied palate is powerful, muscular, and dense with a creamy texture and a fantastically long honey and hazelnut-laced finish. It is named after one of Sonoma’s most reputable vineyard managers, Ulises Valdez Sr. (UV), who passed away recently. The vineyard is situated on Stoetz Lane (SL), only six miles from the Pacific Ocean, up on the hills around Graton and Occidental. Aubert and Valdez Sr. collaborated on the planting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here. Drink: 2023-2036. (9/21/22)"
96-98 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL comes from largely Goldridge soils in parcels owned and managed by the Valdez family (UV being the initials of Ulises Valdez, Aubert's frequent vineyard collaborator, who died in 2018). There are 2,000 cases of this elixir, which offers up classic notes of toasted hazelnuts, white peaches and citrus zest. It's full-bodied, rich and opulent yet contained and controlled, with great silky length and energy. Aubert describes the oak thusly: "The oak is perfect. It just kisses you with a bit of vanilla and cookie dough." The wine is certainly delicious, and thinking back on it, I wonder if my rating is a bit conservative. Drink: 2023-2035. (12/30/22)"
95-97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is one of the more exotic wines in the range. Initially a bit ethereal, the 2021 opens beautifully on the mid-palate and finish, where it shows tremendous breadth and notable mineral intensity. The UV-SL is not quite as obvious as some of the other wines in this range, but its pedigree is evident. There's real density here, and tons of class. Drink: 2025-2036. (Jan 2023)"
Producer notes: "The 2021 UV-SL is a testament to the complexity and grace achievable with heritage clones planted in a wild, mountainous terrain. Savory and dense, the wine is a kaleidoscope of white tea, pastry shell, and a flinty mineral edge. The wine effortlessly dances between bright, crystalline florals and orchard fruits, and a serious, saline frame that evolves in the glass to something much greater than the sum of its parts. The purity and length of its composition will effortlessly carry the wine in the cellar for the coming 10 to 15 years."
| Product SKU | 703935 |
| Producer | Aubert |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| SubRegion | Sonoma County |
| Appellation | Sonoma Coast |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | White |
| Ships To |
