The Gerrie family and longtime winemaker Steve Doerner used Chardonnay to help launch Cristom Vineyards in 1992, and this flagship expression of Chardonnay remains emblematic of the Eola-Amity Hills, starting with the melange from eight vineyards — each within the American Viticultural Area and harvested by hand. Von Oehsen and Eola Springs make up nearly two-thirds of this blend of five clones including 548, a young and prized selection. Now with Daniel Estrin heading up the winemaking, this Chardonnay spent 11 months on the lees in 24% new French oak barrels to build the mouthfeel, followed by five months in stainless steel to preserve the fruit. There’s a whiff of toasty oak, joined by caramel apple and hints of honeycomb. The structured palate pushes across Golden Delicious apple, pie spices and hazelnut while allowing for minerality and lingering citrus. Praise for this wine came from the panel of West Coast wine merchants who met at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River as part of the largest judging of international wine stage in Oregon — the 11th annual Great Northwest Invitational.
Rating: 92 points / gold medal / Outstanding!
Production: 2,028 cases
Alcohol: 13%
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