The 2013 Marcassin Chardonnay displays racy levels of unctuous fruit flavors (hints of lemon oil, grilled peaches, and caramelized oranges) on the introduction. The core of this masterpiece features a harmonious balance of captivating notes of honeycomb, lemon oil, butterscotch crème Brule (a Marcassin hallmark in my opinion), and hints of both umami and marzipan on the glorious finish. Initially tasted in October, 2018 this awe-inspiring new vintage promises even more grandeur in the next 3 – 5 years and should offer superb enjoyment through 2025.”

Additional tasters’ notes: This 2013 reminds me of a combination of favorite Marcassin vintages such as 2009 combined with stunning Puligny Montrachet bottlings by Leroy or Leflaive. Now that I’ve been fortunate to sample more than ten vintages of Marcassin Chardonnay, I can finally grasp why this coveted nectar truly stands apart from any other white wine in America. My team and I sample hundreds of collector level whites from California with many of the proprietors proclaiming they adhere to ‘Burgundian’ practices (tempting me to wonder if any actually understand the implications). Robert Parker has famously compared Marcassin to Burgundy’s Coche-Dury and Marcassin’s co-proprietor has compared their wines to Domaine de la Romanee Conti. I’m suspicious whether Marcassin would be mistaken for either of those wines in a blind tasting but ‘who cares’ as many American collectors would likely prefer Marcassin!