Wine & Spirits - October 2020 - 57

and toasted grain. It will reward some cellar
time. (1,050 cases) §
521142

91 | Alexana

$65

2017 Willamette Valley Signature Chardonnay ^ Nutty, round and savory, with scents
of cream and caramel and flavors that mix
pineapple and sumptuous oak, this wine
boasts a cushiony richness and the delicious
warmth of buttermilk pie. It's balanced and
firmly driven, with a lingering oak impression for veal. (229 cases) §
521430

91 | Big Table Farm

$28

91 | Lumos

$35

2018 Willamette Valley The Wild Bee
Chardonnay (Best Buy) ^ Scents of lemon,
lime, caramel and Wheatabix are delivered
with a straightforward juicy freshness. Lean,
caramelly and composed, it leaves a lasting
impression of richness. §
521198
2016 Willamette Valley Wren Vineyard
Chardonnay (Best Buy) ^ Even in warm vintages, the wines from Wren Vineyard, Dai
Crisp's home vineyard in the cool enclave of
Philomath in southern Willamette Valley, are
cold. At four years old, this wine is still a lean
machine-quiet, tight and mineral, dabbling
in citrus. For all that, it's got the complexity
inherent in a long ager, so let it lie for another
year at least, before decanting for un grand
plateau de fruits de mer. (107 cases) §

521183

90 | Grochau Cellars

$23

90 | Lady Hill

$28

2017 Willamette Valley Chardonnay (Best
Buy) ^ You get a lot of wine for the price in this
nutty white, with its scents of toasted wheat
and walnut skin. Its flavors are more fruit
driven, a lemonade sweetness in the middle,
and lemony acids on the finish. Chill and sip.
(300 cases) §
521191
2018 Willamette Valley Chardonnay (Best
Buy) ^ Scents of cardamom and ghee give way
to a kind of unsweetened caramel impression, bumped up by apple flavors that are
still developing. Cellar. (325 cases) §

521269

521221

91 | Tumwater

$40

2018 Willamette Valley Barrel Select
Chardonnay ^ This generous wine is plush
and richly oaked, with ripe pear and apple
flavors, but cleans up impressively, with a
fresh citrus burst of acid on the finish. For
prawns. (200 cases) §
521140

90 | Adelsheim

$28

2018 Willamette Valley Chardonnay (Best
Buy) ^ Brisk and sunny, this appealing, fresh
chardonnay is bright, with notes of apple
flesh and ocean spray, modest lees and crisp
acid to finish. (2,953 cases) §

90 | Willamette Valley
Vineyards

$30

89 | King Estate

$21

88 | Soléna

$30

2017 Willamette Valley Estate Chardonnay (Best Buy) ^ Drawn from three estate
vineyards, including Elton, WVV's flagship
vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, this lively
chardonnay leads with scents of lemon-lime,
wheat and yuzu. It starts out remarkably tart,
until an hour goes by and the wine begins
to settle into itself, cushioned by broad oak
flavors and an apple-skin grip. This has the
stuffing to age. (1,002 cases) §
521189
2018 Willamette Valley Chardonnay (Best
Buy) ^ Brisk and lean, this wine leads with
notes of fennel pollen and lemon zest around
a nutty core of tart pear flavor. It feels firm
and lifted, a well-priced chardonnay for latesummer sipping. (1,131 cases) §
521214
2018 Willamette Valley Chardonnay
(Best Buy) ^ Broad and mouthfilling, this is
balanced between fully ripe pear fruit and
hazelnut notes; ideal for a summer picnic.
(300 cases) § ■

https://www.cristomvineyards.com https://shop.grochaucellars.com/product/2017-Willamette-Valley-Chardonnay?pageID=4521E644-F58B-143F-3813-FBE718CA9E43&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=10& https://www.wvv.com/Shop-Wines/Willamette-Valley-Vineyards/Whites-Wines https://www.tumwatervineyard.com/product/2018-Barrel-Select-Chardonnay1111?pageID=B87E71A8-DF0D-08F5-FBCA-2D28CF568238&sortBy=Price&maxRows=10& ; https://www.facebook.com/tumwater/ ; https://www.instagram.com/tumwatervineyard ; https://twitter.com/tumwaterwine

Wine & Spirits - October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - October 2020