Aubert Wine Ratings: The Producer’s Best Vintages

Researching Aubert wine ratings is an excellent jumping-off point for finding the best vintages to add to your collection.

Mark Aubert’s winery first sprang into existence from California’s rich soils in 1999, and ever since, Aubert Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines have been climbing steadily higher in professional and public opinion, like grapevines reaching for the sun. Of course, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the state’s most prolifically planted varieties. With so many other notable California producers specializing in similar wines—Peter Michael, Williams Selyem, and Donum among them—what is it about Aubert wines that merits an ever-growing waiting list just to join the winery’s mailing list?

A look at Aubert’s wine ratings over the years offers the first clue. Wine Advocate grants many Aubert Chardonnays a perfect 100-point score, and Aubert Pinot Noir likewise tends to score well, with almost no wines scoring less than a 90. In a state known for its diversity of both terroir and style, consistent quality—paired with youthful vigor in both wine and winemaker alike—have firmly established Aubert’s respected place in the industry as well as in discerning collectors’ cellars of choice.

The Allure of Aubert Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Wines

There is more, of course, to Aubert’s high wine ratings than mere numbers. Aubert Chardonnay wines are known for their luscious, juicy fruitiness and vivacious acidity with just a touch of oakiness. An Aubert Pinot Noir, meanwhile, can always be counted upon for an intense, full-bodied experience (and a high alcohol content), often featuring strong earthy and black fruit notes.

The grapes for Aubert wines are sourced from several well-tended vineyards from the Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Russian River Valley, and Napa Valley American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), including a 3.2-acre vineyard in Sonoma owned by Aubert himself. Each vineyard boasts unique climate and soil characteristics that lend equally individual flavors to their grapes; sourcing from as many as nine different vineyards is part of what lends Aubert wines the depth and complexity necessary to compete with other top producers in the region.

The Best Vintages, According to Aubert’s Top Wine Ratings

So what are the best vintages to buy from this swiftly rising California star? The lists below outline the best vintages by variety, in order of highest to lowest wine ratings according to Wine Advocate—with none receiving less than a 96. 

Aubert’s Ten Best Chardonnay Vintages

Apricots, pears, sweet spices and nuts, chalky minerals, a hint of citrus—Aubert Chardonnay wines are colorful bouquets of flavors and aromas with excellent balance and finesse. As one review described the top wine listed below:

“The 2017 Chardonnay Lauren Estate starts out with a quiet intensity of ripe pears, apricot tart and spiced apples notes, growing exponentially to reveal a whole spectrum of savory/earthy nuances … Full-bodied, the palate truly lets off the flavor fireworks, giving up loads of citrus, stone fruit, pears and savory flavors plus a racy backbone, finishing very long and very moreish.”

Honorable mentions: 2016 Eastside, 2012 CIX, 2017 Eastside

Aubert’s Ten Best Pinot Noir Vintages

Fantastically fresh, with finely grained tannins and lush aromatics, Aubert Pinot Noirs are maelstroms of marvelous intensity. The very best of these are perfect storms of flavor and scent; as Robert Parker describes the 2015 CIX:

“Close to perfection … [with] forest floor, porcini mushrooms, underbrush and loamy soil notes intermixed with hints of black raspberry, cherry and blueberry … A prodigious Pinot Noir.”

Honorable mentions: 2016 UV, 2015 UV-SL, 2007 UV

Despite both grapes’ notoriously fickle natures, these Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are more often than not the cream of each year’s crops. Time and again, Aubert has delivered quality drinking experiences that remind even jaded connoisseurs of the true potential of what these wines can become in the right vintner’s hands.

Adding Aubert Wines to Your Growing Collection

As illustrated in the lists of Aubert wine ratings above, Chardonnay is a youthful drink. Aubert Chardonnay wines are typically ready to enjoy within one to two years of vinification but usually drink well for another ten years. Pinot Noir has similar aging potential, although it is more likely than its white counterpart to last beyond a decade.

Aubert produces about 10,000 wine cases annually—about 7,500 of Chardonnay and only 2,500 of Pinot Noir. An increase to 15,000 cases total is planned for sometime in the near future to meet rising demand; Aubert wines of both types have become some of the most sought-after California wines in the world.

If you plan to store these wines for a time, you may not be cellaring them for as many years as a long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon or vintage Champagne, but you will still need to do so carefully in order to preserve the quality of these wines. Professional storage options provide the optimal conditions necessary for perfect preservation, whether you plan to resell your Aubert wines at a later date or are saving a bottle or two for a special occasion. 

Whether you are starting your high-end wine collection or adding to an established portfolio, Vinfolio is your partner in buying, selling, and professional storage. Contact us today to get access to the world’s finest wine.