- Tinte Cellars donation drive for Ukraine enters final week
- Jackson Family Wines invests in Walla Walla vines, wines
- 2022 Idaho Winery of the Year: Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery
- 2022 Idaho Winery to Watch: Rivaura Vineyards and Winery
- 2022 Washington Winery of the Year: Westport Winery Garden Resort
- 2022 Washington Winery to Watch: Liberty Lake Wine Cellars
- 2022 Oregon Winery of the Year: Chris James Cellars
- Long path of Andrew Riechers leads to early acclaim for Audeant Wines
- The Wine Knows: Upchurch hits sweet spot with Cab on Red Mountain
- Northwest Merlot remains memorable in talented hands
Minimus Wines 2017 Dijon-Free Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $35
UCLA-educated biochemist Meredith Bell grew up in the Willamette Valley and her fascination with Chardonnay explains why she shared in the launch of Chardonnay-only Statera Cellars in 2014. For this Craft Wine Co., project, she and Laura Cusick worked with five non-Dijon clones of Chardonnay — Calera, Wenté, Musqué, Mount Eden and Mendoza — and the lots spent 16 months in a blend of new and neutral oak. It brings a golden straw color and comes across as creamy, laden with brioche, honeyed almonds and toasted marshmallow. While there’s a generous approach with barrel, its body offers balance and structured to stand up to any fowl-friendly meal. It received a gold medal last fall at the Great Northwest Invitational in Hood River, Ore., and Craft Wine Co., operates a tasting room at 116 W. Main St. in Carlton.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 175 cases
Alcohol 13.2%
0 comments