Reviews & Scores
The 2006 Chardonnay The Judge is the first wine in this tasting that approaches full maturity. Honey, hazelnuts, dried flowers, sage, orange peel and spices meld together in the glass.
VM96November 2013
Bright greenish-yellow. Reticent aromas of citrus peel and butterscotch, plus a whiff of exotic fruits. Dense, dry and light on its feet, with strong rocky and saline elements that give the wine more lift and aromatic persistence than the 2006 Napa bottling. Complex, classic and very long. Kongsgaard describes the Judge as a tannic vineyard. 'The wine's Chablis-like acidity is really partly a function of the tannins,' he explained, adding that he uses most Damy barrels (100% new) for their subtlety.
ST93May 2009
The 2006 Chardonnay The Judge is one of the vintage’s more compelling examples of this varietal. Like its siblings, it is aged 22 months in French oak (mostly new), and is bottled with no clarification. The Judge represents a selection of the finest barrels and is an homage to Kongsgaard’s father. It exhibits more white peach, pineapple, and tropical fruit characteristics as well as a steely minerality, full body, and more power than the regular cuvee.
WA93December 2008