Orchard House Vineyard is the recently acquired home for Joe Dobbes’ Iterum. Before the purchase, the 20 acre estate vineyard was planted to two of his favorite Chardonnay clones, #76 and #548. The wine was fermented by native yeast, and only a small percentage went through malolactic fermentation. In the cellar the wine was aged 11 months in a combination of French and Acacia oak (38% new). Light yellow in color with green highlights, the wine needs very little time to open up. The effusive aromas emphasize lemon custard, oak spice and ripe apple. Concentrated in flavors with lemon and oak spice seamlessly woven together, the flavors are balanced by good acidity that adds length to the finish. With the citrus and oak spice lingering on the palate, the wine has good aging potential and should be at its best in another 3 to 4 years. 183 cases made.
Iterum Wines, Eola-Amity Hills (Willamette Valley, Oregon) Chardonnay 2020
By Norm Roby