Yarden Chardonnay 2000--Wow

[Scott S]

Last week I had a little wine adventure with old Yarden wines. Our distributor came across some long lost Yarden gift sets in the warehouse. These particular sets are so old that the included red and white are Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 and Yarden Chardonnay 2000.

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I was excited to try these out so we popped one of each open immediately. When I pulled the cork on the 1998 Cabernet I was pleased to find the cork in perfect condition, and was impressed with how deeply stained purple it was. A wine professional at a tasting once claimed that the cork stain is irrelevant, but my experience has taught me to begin salivating whenever I see this. Here’s my tasting note:

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Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
A dark and muddy color, with slight browning.
Lively tannins and acidity. Pleasant charred oak flavors mingled with dark, sweet, and pleasantly jammy fruit flavors of mostly blackberry, with black cherry, mulberry, and cola notes.
In my enthusiasm I concluded with, “Mature, but still big and delicious”. (and it’s still showing some of this fruit today, 4 days later)

So once again Yarden shows it’s mettle for aging. But here’s the shocker, the Yarden Chardonnay 2000, which we opened after the Cab mostly as a curiosity (“oh, let’s see how far gone this is”), managed to maybe even TOP the performance of the Cabernet Sauvignon.

We opened the Chardonnay, and we got the reassuring pop. The cork had that soaked appearance almost to the top. We each poured a taste, took a sip, then silence. The rep broke the silence when he summed up succinctly (and rather impiously) what we were both thinking: “It’s f------ great.”

My tasting note:
Yarden Chardonnay 2000
Clear deep golden color.
Beautiful, ethereal oak and vanilla, biscuity. Like a vanilla cookie.
Has this amazing lightness, delicacy, and elegance.
Great aftertaste, hazelnut.
It reminds you why people ever bothered putting chardonnay in oak.

Basically, I was shocked by how good the Chardonnay tasted. As I noted it had this incredible lightness to it, and really did not come across as mature on the palate, except maybe in the lack of fruitiness. It seemed to be mostly the oak you noticed, but it was so pleasant and delicate. It wasn’t like the 2003 Yarden Chardonnay, which I had within the last year and felt was heavier and not aging as gracefully. I noticed Rogov did not include this in the 2009 edition of the Israeli Guide, but in the 2008 it got an 89. Personally I thought this bottle was in the 90 point range and might be worth revisiting.

[Andrew Breskin]

Do you prefer the 1998 Cab over the 1999?

[Scott S]

Tough to make a call, but I really enjoyed the 1999 last time I tried it. I want to say the 1998 seemed a little jammier than the 1999. How do you think the 1999 is drinking?

[Andrew Breskin]

I've never tried the 1998, but the 1999 is certainly on the far side of its peak. That said, I still think it's a quality bottle that drinks so smoothly that by the time you finish the bottle it has just started to open up! Fortunately I have quite a few to experiment with

[Daniel Rogov]

Following, perhaps as a point of reference, are my tasting notes for the Yarden Chardonnay wines from 1999-2007. My suggestion is not to get too many hopes up for regular Yarden releases of this variety for more than 6- 8 years. The Odem Organic will cellar for longer.

Best
Rogov


Yarden, Chardonnay, 2007: Concentrated and full-bodied, with aromas and flavors of pears, figs, apricots and green apples, all with an overlay of spicy, toasty oak. Rich and persistent, with notes of tangerines and nectarines that come in on the long finish. Drink now-2012. Score 91.K
Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2007: Full-bodied, deep golden with a distinct tint of orange that plays in the glass, a wine reflecting generous wood but that in fine proportion to acidity and fruits. Opens with pears, grilled nuts and pie crust notes, those going on to show ripe fig, pineapple and baked apple aromas and flavors. Long and creamy with the oak rising on the finish. Elegance on a grand scale. Meant for cellaring, approachable on release, but best 2011–2016. Score 92. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2006: Full-bodied, opening with subtle aromas of figs, pears and apples, going on to show a generous dash of smoky, toasty oak and then blossoming forth with pineapple, citrus peel and minerals leading to a long finish that is simultaneously creamy and bright. Drink now–2013. Score 92. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, 2006: Rich and supple, deep gold in color, full-bodied, with abundant toasty oak and vanilla but those well integrated. Opens in the glass to reveal peach, yellow plum and mineral aromas and flavors, those hinting at one moment of figs at another of pears. Hints of cream and spice come in but in the end the fruits carry through beautifully to an effusive finish that will remind many of grand cru Chablis. Drink now-2014. Score 92. KYarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2005: Full-bodied, opening with floral and citrus, those going on to tropical fruits and figs, all set off by hints of smoky oak, ginger and, on the long finish, ripe pears. Drink now–2012. Score 91. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, 2005: Oak-aged for seven months, full-bodied, bright gold in color, with nutty, floral and woody notes highlighting ripe tropical fruits, pears and citrus. On the background a nice hint of white pepper, all leading to a long finish. Drink now. Score 89. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2004:With its once generous oak now subdued, rich and complex, full-bodied and creamy, with pears, ripe apricots, citrus and mango fruits backed up by light spicy and mineral overtones. Drink now. Score 91. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2003: Lightly burnished gold in color, rich and elegant, with ripe pear, honeysuckle and melon flavors coming together beautifully with generous oak, minerals and nutmeg. On the long finish a hint of hazelnuts. Drink up. Score 90. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, 2003: Showing medium- to full-bodied, with a complex array of apricot, pear and fig fruits on first attack, those yielding comfortably to citrus, pineapple, minerals and spicy oak. Showing signs of age. Drink up. Score 89. K
Yarden, Chardonnay, Odem Organic Vineyard, 2002: Continues to show its buttery-oak pattern. Maturing gracefully and showing a bright golden straw color. Ripe and complex flavors of pears, tropical fruits, hazelnuts and spices opening on the palate to reveal flinty and floral overtones along with generous but well-integrated oak and a long, vanilla-cream finish. Drink up. Score 92. K


Note: The following are tasting notes from about two years ago.

Yarden, Chardonnay, 2001: Fully mature, showing dark gold now, less acidity and more buttery than in its youth but still drinking very nicely. On the nose and palate ripe pears, citrus peel, toasty bread and vanilla, all lingering nicely. Drink up. Score 89. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, 2000: Mature, but still plenty of fruit here. Medium to full-bodied, with pears, figs, apples and citrus on the nose and palate, those supported nicely by hints of vanilla and spring flowers and a light hint of smoky wood. Drink up. Score 89. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, 1999: Subtle and delicious, this deep golden colored wine has lovely spice and butterscotch aromas, all on a solid core of apple, quince and pear flavors. Well balanced and bordering on elegance. A bit past its peak. Drink up. Score 86. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, 1998: After having spent seven months in small oak barrels, this delicious medium to full-bodied wine has aromas and flavors of pears, grapefruits, lemons and kiwis, as well as charming hints of vanilla. Sliding rapidly pasts its peak. Drink up. Score 88. K

Yarden, Chardonnay, 1997: Deep and long, with stewed pear, yeasty and nutty flavors all overlaid by generous hints of oak, minerals and earthiness. Past its peak but full-bodied deep golden wine continues to drink nicely. Most certainly though not for further cellaring. Drink up. Score 91. K

[Ehud W]

Yarden, Chardonnay, 1997: Deep and long, with stewed pear, yeasty and nutty flavors all overlaid by generous hints of oak, minerals and earthiness. Past its peak but full-bodied deep golden wine continues to drink nicely. Most certainly though not for further cellaring. Drink up. Score 91. K

Had my last White Katzrin 1997 a few weeks ago - what a charm!!
Very lively, the fruit is there, and a lot of it (!), smooth, silky, no oak just a bit of vanilla, nuts and honey. Yes, the age added earthiness and yeasts, but it was long and extremely enjoyable. I'd score it 90-91 even today, not two years ago...