Chardonnay
Wine Advocate #162 (Dec 2005) -Rated 95 points
Consistently one of California’s finest, longest-lived Chardonnays is Newton’s Unfiltered Chardonnay, and the 2002 is drinking spectacularly well. Moreover, it is capable of lasting another 4-5 years. However, the light green/gold-colored 2003 Unfiltered Chardonnay plays it closer to the vest. It displays hints of marmalade, caramel, liquid rocks, and honeysuckle, good background acidity, more obvious structure and backwardness than the previous two vintages, excellent weight, and a long finish. This beautiful Chardonnay is reminiscent of a top premier cru from Chassagne-Montrachet. —Robert Parker
Wine Advocate #157 (Feb 2005) -Rated 96 points
I was blown away by the 2002 Chardonnay Unfiltered, one of California’s finest Chardonnays made from a 30-year-old vineyard planted with old Wente clones. This cuvee ages well, as a gorgeous bottle of 1992 tasted recently demonstrated. Nevertheless, I prefer drinking them within their first 6-7 years. A huge, floral and white peach nose with some oily citrus and tropical fruit (primarily pineapple) jumps from the glass of this powerful, broad, but beautifully layered wine that is harmonious and pure. As the wine sits in the glass, some of that famous gout de petrole emerges, which is a characteristic I often find in Montrachets and Meursault-Perrieres. The wine has good acidity and should prove to be one of the top Chardonnays of the vintage. —Robert Parker
