WTN: 2004 Roessler Alder Springs chardonnay

[Jenise]

2004 Roessler chardonnay, Emerald Pond Block, Alder Springs, Mendocino County
I've never seen this wine around these parts before, but the name was familiar-ish so I unhesitatingly rescued it from a mark down bin where it had been reduced to just $17 from $40. I served it to dinner guests following a more recent vintage of Benziger, which is a very nice wine but the comparison allowed me to appreciate just how worth it's $40 price tag the Roessler is. Very pale yellow color. Nose of butter, green apple and orange blossoms. Concentrated flavors of same plus fresh corn, sweet spices and cream put a subtlely elegant veil over the acidity. Excellent, and very Puligny Montrachet-like.

For anyone not familiar with Roessler wines, here's something I fished off the About Us section of their website:
Roessler Cellars is dedicated to producing single vineyard designated wines from grapes farmed to our specifications by growers who maintain our passion for quality. From the humble beginnings of our 250 case harvest of Pinot Noir from Sangiacomo Vineyard in 2000, we've grown to 4000 cases of single vineyard wines from the 04 harvest. Our goals are to grow with our estate fruit to a total of 5000 cases over the next 5 years.

Our Estate Vineyard is located 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the northernmost area of Sonoma County and was planted in the early summer of 2003. Founder Roger Roessler is joined by his brother, Richard Roessler, and renowned winemaker Wells Guthrie in developing some of the region's finest vintages.

We are primarily interested in Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, but have also added a few small lots of Chardonnay which we feel are in keeping with our Burgundian roots....

Thanks, Jenise.

I've had a small sampling of Roessler wines (4 different Pinots) and have liked some OK and been disappointed in some others. So I was glad when this wine showed up at a restaurant last November, since I'd been wanting to give their Chards a try to see if I might have better luck with those. Indeed, I liked this bottle. I especially agree with you on the sensation of solid concentration and that creamy yet acidic texture.

2004 Roessler Chardonnay Alder Springs Emerald Pond Block Mendocino. A pretty bouquet of rich pear flesh, lemon drop candy, soft minerality, candy cigarettes, and creamy-tinged oak. It is solidly-structured, with plenty of body and heft, yet sporting a crisp edge. It is compact and relatively powerful, with a solid pear and spice flavor profile. Overall, it is a nice bottle.

-Michael

[Jenise]

Thanks, Jenise.

I've had a small sampling of Roessler wines (4 different Pinots) and have liked some OK and been disappointed in some others. So I was glad when this wine showed up at a restaurant last November, since I'd been wanting to give their Chards a try to see if I might have better luck with those. Indeed, I liked this bottle. I especially agree with you on the sensation of solid concentration and that creamy yet acidic texture.

2004 Roessler Chardonnay Alder Springs Emerald Pond Block Mendocino. A pretty bouquet of rich pear flesh, lemon drop candy, soft minerality, candy cigarettes, and creamy-tinged oak. It is solidly-structured, with plenty of body and heft, yet sporting a crisp edge. It is compact and relatively powerful, with a solid pear and spice flavor profile. Overall, it is a nice bottle.

-Michael

"Compact and relatively powerful". THAT'S a great description. I used 'concentration' but I fidgeted over it, knowing that could convey too much about size because this wine wasn't big, just powerful, and it had a certain delicacy to it for all that. You figured out how to say what I couldn't. And "candy cigarettes" made me laugh out loud--shouldn't admit I remember those, but I do.

Thanks for the note. Nice price. I don't think I have tried a white wine from Roessler but have enjoyed their pinots ... particularly when their prices were a bit lower. I usually skip them now ... except for maybe the Blue Jay ... I think that is what it is called. Anderson Valley fruit.

For some reason I thought Wells was no longer making the wines ... but I may be mixing up stories.

Jason