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2000 Ian's Reserve Chardonnay, 100% Dijon Clone

(notes updated 7/22/03)

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The Wine

Entirely Dijon clone, this is our attempt to make a fine white Burgundy, complete with richness, balance and great acid structure for aging. Named for Ian Peterson-Nedry who died on the first day of harvest for Dijon clones from our vineyards in 1996, it is our best white and, with vine age, may be one of the best chardonnays you've tasted. The Wine Advocate said the 1997 Ian's Reserve is "certainly one of the finest Oregon Chardonnays I have tasted to-date."

Dijon Clones

Acquired from Burgundy's collection of clones selected at the University in Dijon as vineyard replants, Dijon clones are well suited to the cool climate of Oregon. Ripening as in Burgundy, slightly before Pinot noir rather than two weeks afterwards as was common with the original clones selected for a warmer California climate, these clones revolutionize Oregon chardonnay. Over the last couple decades strong cooperation between Burgundians and Oregonians, led by Raymond Bernard and David Adelsheim, respectively, resulted in a number of these clones being brought into Oregon State University's clonal importation program. From the clones evaluated and sent through disease testing, the favorites seem to be 76, 95 and 96 and have now been propagated into thousands of cuttings which have been planted throughout the valley.

The Vineyard

Stoller Vineyards is our newest vineyard, containing state-of-the-art clones, rootstocks and planting densities, as well as full viticultural flexibility such as drip irrigation. Stoller has 75, 76, 95 and 96 Dijon chardonnay clones, at two high densities. A warm site at the tip of the Dundee Hills, elevations range from 200-600 feet and soils are Jory, a soil series of deep, red volcanic loam. Site and clones assure full ripeness in all vintages.

The Vintage

Vintage 2000 was our third great vintage in-a-row, providing full ripeness and excellent weather throughout the growing season and through harvest. The average to one week early harvest, September 29-October 26, saw only 1.09 inches of rain. Fruit quantities were bountiful, permitting crop thinning to obtain ideal croploads of 2.50 tons/acre for Pinot gris, 2.55 for Chardonnay and 2.31 for Pinot noir. White wine characteristics are between 1998's round fleshiness and 1999's crisply structured ageability.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested on October 7-14, 2000 (Stoller Vineyards 77%, Corral Creek Vineyards 23%, @ an average of 23.25 brix, 7.2 g/l TA, and 3.35 pH

Fermentation:

Cooperage/Aging:

27% new, 41% one use, 32% older barrels, and left on lees without racking for 12 months

Clonal Selection:

100% Dijon clonal fruit (95, 96 and 76) from Stoller and Corral Creek, pressed whole cluster

Bottling:

Bottled 11/27/01 with cold stabilization and filtration

Bottling Analyses:

14.3% alcohol, 3.47 pH, 6.0g/l TA and 0.17% residual sugar

Cases Produced:

434

Suggested Retail:

$28

Release Date:

August, 2002

Winemaker's Comments

Rich, ripe and heavily weighted on the palate, it finishes with surprising freshness and acidity. White blossoms, overripe peach and custard aromatics presage complexity in the mouth, which the wine delivers with spices, tree fruit and light butterscotch impressions building on a core of tropical fruit and melon. Lovely and rich--what we all want to be.

Quotes

Northwest Wine Summit Competition, May 2003. Silver

Wine Advocate, November 2002, Pierre-Antoine Rovani: 90 Points. Consistently one of Oregon's finest chardonnays...displays lovely aromas of butter and pears. This wine has loads of depth, huge richness, and a long, pure finish. Tangy apple and poached pear flavors make up this medium-bodied offering's character.

Wine Spectator, October 2002: 90 Points. A serious chardonnay that's rich and spicy. It's not heavy, but dripping with cream and smoke overtones to the focused pear and mineral flavors, all of which echo beautifully on the graceful finish.

Oregon Wine Report, September 2002. ...soft and lushly smooth in the mouth with flavors of summer grass, lime and nectarine, and a pleasing stony minerality. Finish is long and warming...