ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "Justin Willett has his hat in many rings, but the Tyler project is his heart and soul. Centered around Willett’s MAE Estate Vineyard and the Fiddlestix Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills—as well as some bottlings from other top sites in the region—the Tyler wines are polished, precise and classically Santa Barbara in every way."
"The 2023 Chardonnay Mae Estate Vineyard pours a very light, crystalline yellow color, yet its weight and depth belie that translucent hue. Chalky and powdery in texture, it's a wine of excellent harmony and nuance that sings in perfect resonance all the way from start to finish. A fleshy, rich stone fruit profile leads the charge but, highlighted by shades of salty minerality and an almond-oil-like richness that lends a viscosity to the mouthfeel. Another excellent 2023 Chardonnay from Justin Willett."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "I consider the Tyler Chardonnays among the best in the region, strongly bearing the influence of Jean-Marc Roulot and Dominique Lafon through a finely tuned noble reduction and crystalline nature, while also referencing Vincent Dauvissat through fermentation in tank followed by maturation in barrel for the regional wines. After gently crushing a portion of berries, the fruit is whole-cluster pressed, allowing the juice to oxidize and settle overnight while retaining as many fine solids as possible. Fermentation occurs via native yeasts and undergoes full malolactic conversion before 10–11 months of élevage in 15% to 25% new wood from François Frères and Damy. The wines do not undergo bâtonnage, and Willett's preference is for 228-liter barrels due to their cooler fermentation temperatures, a change from the earlier use of 500-liter barrels. Maturation is completed after six to nine months in stainless steel tanks, followed by light filtration before bottling."
"The 2023 Chardonnay Mae Estate opens with a lovely bouquet of citrus curd, fennel and pastry cream, followed by a spongey, pure and succulent palate. The finish is understated and driven by an even-keeled finish that lingers with bright, chiseled acidity. This is a stellar example of the northern corridor of Sta. Rita Hills, and it will be an increasingly formidable presence in the Tyler roster as the vines mature."
"The 2023 Chardonnay Mae Estate Vineyard pours a very light, crystalline yellow color, yet its weight and depth belie that translucent hue. Chalky and powdery in texture, it's a wine of excellent harmony and nuance that sings in perfect resonance all the way from start to finish. A fleshy, rich stone fruit profile leads the charge but, highlighted by shades of salty minerality and an almond-oil-like richness that lends a viscosity to the mouthfeel. Another excellent 2023 Chardonnay from Justin Willett."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "I consider the Tyler Chardonnays among the best in the region, strongly bearing the influence of Jean-Marc Roulot and Dominique Lafon through a finely tuned noble reduction and crystalline nature, while also referencing Vincent Dauvissat through fermentation in tank followed by maturation in barrel for the regional wines. After gently crushing a portion of berries, the fruit is whole-cluster pressed, allowing the juice to oxidize and settle overnight while retaining as many fine solids as possible. Fermentation occurs via native yeasts and undergoes full malolactic conversion before 10–11 months of élevage in 15% to 25% new wood from François Frères and Damy. The wines do not undergo bâtonnage, and Willett's preference is for 228-liter barrels due to their cooler fermentation temperatures, a change from the earlier use of 500-liter barrels. Maturation is completed after six to nine months in stainless steel tanks, followed by light filtration before bottling."
"The 2023 Chardonnay Mae Estate opens with a lovely bouquet of citrus curd, fennel and pastry cream, followed by a spongey, pure and succulent palate. The finish is understated and driven by an even-keeled finish that lingers with bright, chiseled acidity. This is a stellar example of the northern corridor of Sta. Rita Hills, and it will be an increasingly formidable presence in the Tyler roster as the vines mature."
