Joe Hudon took over the winemaking for the Whitelach family in 2010, but the barrels he employs for this program were first used in 2006, an even split of French and Kentucky oak. Combined with a harvest at 21.8 brix, you have a Chardonnay that’s not the oaky butterbomb one might expect. There are notes of toast, lemon pepper, dried pear, green apple and crushed herbs in the aromas. The palate brings flavors of pear, apple, starfruit and toast with a bit of an oily texture in the midpalte from six months of surlie aging. The lemony finish gives it plenty of acidity. The Claar Cellars wines are available at their Yakima Valley tasting room in Zillah and on Amazon.com. Their distribution channels include seven states on the East Coast.
Rating: Recommended
Production: 100 cases
Alcohol: 13.6%
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