Dundee winemaker Sarah Cabot uses the Battle Creek tasting room as her stage in downtown Portland’s Pearl District, and this Chardonnay ranks among the most delicious and ageable to have crossed our panels in months. Her approach to her reserve Chardonnay program remains three-pronged – neutral oak barrels (70%), amphora from sandstone (20%) and stainless steel. And her touch with four growers – Victorian Summit, the Austin family’s Rain Dance plantings, Terry Family and Precept site Yamhela – reflects her admiration for Chablis Grand Cru. The nose hints at Bosc pear, Meyer lemon, Ambrosia salad and fresh linen. Its weight on the entry to the palate is reminiscent of lemon curd, and the complexity builds with dried apricot, crushed pear and starfruit. There’s a lick of oak tucked behind the lingering finish of lemon oil, making for a vibrant and delectable expression of Oregon Chardonnay.
Rating: 94 points — Outstanding!
Production: 486 cases
Alcohol: 13.6%
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