The Knudsen siblings recently named this tier as their "Family Series," and this bottling by Argyle winemaker Nate Klostermann exemplifies the style has elevated Oregon in the eyes of the Chardonnay. Three blocks of Dijon clones 76 and 96, planted between 1993 and 1995, spent 15 months in a barrel program of French oak that includes 25% new wood. That oak provides only a … [Read more...] about Knudsen Vineyards 2019 Estate Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $45
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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 … [Read more...] about Minimus Wines 2017 Dijon-Free Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $35
Mercer Family Vineyards 2017 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills $13
Best Buy! Last year, Rob and Will Mercer chose to rebrand Mercer Canyons and reposition it as Mercer Family Vineyards as part of their distribution collaboration with Delicato Family Wines. And winemaker Jeremy Santo, homemade in Prosser, Wash., made a stylistic statement with Chardonnay during his first vintage with the Mercer family. Enticing aromas of pear, lemon and apple … [Read more...] about Mercer Family Vineyards 2017 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills $13