2012 Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented: Speaking of the French wood, shout out to Nikki Nelson of Liquid Farm for recommending the Damy barrel for the new wood (10%) in this year’s BF Chardonnay. The wood is half as invasive as last year’s and twice as integrated. Those barrels are a miracle, and when you taste this wine you’ll realize why the marketing department wants to raise the price. Light to medium straw color with aromas of green apple and lemon zest. There’s some minerals under the bouquet of sublime toasted oak, but the wine is very complete right now, showing a gorgeous posture to be de-capped and emptied. But patience will be rewarded. Three to five years this wine will smoke White Burgs three times the price.
