New 96s for Oregon Chard!
We hadn't planned an email for today but all the praise for Oregon wine simply won't let us rest! Yesterday Decanter Magazine dropped a Willamette Valley Chardonnay feature with some eye-popping reviews for a handful of our favored Chardonnay champions: 96 points for both Walter Scott and Lingua Franca, 93 points for Morgen Long–an exceptional value.
We've been beating the Willamette Valley Chardonnay drum for so many years, long before the rest of the world "discovered" our Chards. But we're cool with seeing validation for our winemaking friends' hard work and our efforts to promote WV Chard. Because Decanter enjoys an international following, these three are already getting gobbled up by thirsty Chardonnay fans, hence why we didn't wait to send this offer. Lock yours in now before they're gone!
$58.45 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($64.95 regular)
96 points Decanter: "Citrusy and mineral aromas, almost saline, with a lemon, green apple and apricot fruit character and plenty of depth. The acidity is vibrant and fresh, and the texture racy and very fine. Ken Pahlow is producing some of the most Chablis-like wines in the US–there’s no fat here, but concentration and structure provide a marvelous length. Drink 2020-2030. 12.5% alcohol."
Us: Distinct and beautifully textured Chardonnay, mixing a lemony intensity with sweet tangerine, plump summer peach, and salty minerals. The Chardonnay plantings are some of the most exciting and diverse on the West Coast, comprised of no less than fifteen clones.
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$49.45 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($54.95 regular)
96 points Decanter: "Lovely, expressive notes of juicy grapefruit and ripe pear, toast and oak spice make an appearance but the cask ageing is very well integrated. The overall impression is of a consummate balance between richness and freshness, with another layer of firm underlying acidity too, and the wine lingers enticingly. As consultant Dominique Lafon notes: ‘Our better wines are not the bigger. Our selection is on refinement.’ Drink 2020-2030 12.5% alcohol."
Us: Smells mouthwatering, tastes mouthwatering! Our kind of Chard: lemony heaven, from fresh to custard creme, with the ideal balance of richness and brilliant precision. Sophisticated accents of chamomile and pristine-glacial-stream-over-rock (esoteric, but if you hike in Oregon, it's one of those unmistakable parts of life you can't live without).
Half of Lingua Franca's Estate Chardonnay vineyard is planted to cuttings from vines found in the Montrachet vineyard, the source of the world's most famous Chardonnay (and perhaps, white wine).
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$29.65 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($32.95 regular)
93 points Decanter: "This newcomer, a specialist in Willamette Valley Chardonnay, is producing some of the most elegant, nuanced wines in the valley. His entry-level offering in 2018 was among the brightest discoveries of my recent tastings. There are restrained citrus and floral notes upfront and a fresh, lively texture allied with a subtle density on the palate. The wines are fermented on native yeasts in a combination of large and small casks and stainless-steel tanks, then aged for 18 months. Very elegant, sophisticated wine. Drink 2020-2030 13.2 alcohol.%"
Us: Yellow and green citrus with an accent that reminded me of the best marzipan croissant I've ever had. I adore the way this smells, moves, stretches, exemplifying what we prize in Willamette Chard.