03.12.08 /2002 Nickel and Nickel John's Creek Vineyard Chardonnay

Sam brought in this wine for us to try. It was pretty subdued for a Napa Chard. I always thought Nickel and Nickel would be overdone. I have had a few, and I have found them all to be quite delightful. At first, there was a little rubbing alcohol on the nose, with hints of candy corn. Not too much oak, but soft and subtle.

Everyone agreed it was a great wine. It could have probably gone another 2 years or so, but it was good to drink that night.

10.25 2005 Nickel and Nickel Truchard Vineyard

I ordered this by mistake. It sounded familiar and it is the same bottle we had in Nantucket over the summer and on our last trip. It is still a very delish Chard but might be better when it is served to me in the basement of the Boarding House. I made a nice piece of cod with wild brown rice and peas. The peas were not a good match as they were too earthy for the wine, but the lemon on the cod hit the high notes and the wild rice gripped the tannins.

2005 Nickel and Nickel Searby Vineyard Chardonnay

For those of you who know, I love the 2005 N&N Truchard Vineyard. So I ordered a couple of sample bottles from our distributor. Very disappointed with the Searby Vineyard. Bottle description gives it floral aromas with flavors of Muscat and passion fruit. This is true. Also sweet oak and fruit follow through. This is truw as well. I just don't like it.

2005 Nickel and Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay

We are on Nantucket for the weekend. Last night we popped into The Boarding House, off and on our favorite restaurant on the island. I ordered the belly tuna tartare - yeah, not very original, but it was layered with goat cheese - and a local fluke served with local beets and a walnut aoli. Pretty tasty.

To drink, a bottle of N & N Truchard Vineyard Chard from Carneros. Nickel and Nickel being an off shoot of Far Niente - a brand that I said I would never like - but the sons are surpassing the father with their single vingeyard single varietal wines. This is the second time I tried the Truchard Chard - the first being in July at Boarding House as well. It is $75 on their wine list, I think about $24 wholesale.

It is a surprisingly lightly oaked Cali Chard, slightly grassy and bitter, with bright acidity and an oaky finish. Somewhat spicy for a chard, with starfruit & guava notes, and a super mellow finish. Not what I would drink on a hot day in the summer, but delish nonetheless.