Winemaker Kate Ayres has crafted an elegant, crisp Chardonnay with aromas and flavors of grapefruit, apple, and pear sourced from several areas of the Valley. The 10 months spent in 41% new French oak add a tiny bit of spice and vanilla. Serve it with a baked Sea Bass or after dinner with cheeses like Epoisses or Gouda. It took a while to figure out the right Chardonnay clone for Oregon. Initially, Chardonnay clones that were quite successful in California were planted, but they seldom fully ripened in the Willamette Valley. Fortunately, folks like Rollin Soles of Argyle Winery and David Adelsheim of Adelsheim Vineyard encouraged investigating the suitability of Chardonnay clones from France. And, as they say, the rest is history.
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, Willamette Valley (Oregon) Chardonnay 2022
By Rebecca Murphy