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1997 Ian's Reserve Chardonnay

(updated 8/18/00)

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The Wine

The second vintage of our Dijon clone reserve chardonnay, what some are calling "White Oregons" (as in White Burgundies) because of the finesse, richness and elegant texture they exhibit, is ready to startle you and re-excite those who were able to get last year's vintage. The 1996 met with great acclaim, including representing the Willamette Valley appellation in a national magazine review of western winegrowing. The 1997 is an optimal blend of 90% Dijon and 10% 108 clone (for a good acid backbone) and carries a white stonefruit and lush tropical core of fruit on the mid-palate, finishing with great acidity and touches of honey and custard. It is highly regarded as probably one of the couple best Oregon chardonnays, representing Oregon progress with the grape in a national trade seminar. We think one of the best chardonnays you will have had.

Stats

Harvested on September 25 and 28 @22.5-24.0 brix. Dijon clonal fruit from Stoller Vineyard (90%) and Draper fruit from Corral Creek (10%) were pressed whole cluster, fermented using 4 yeasts (including indigenous) in French oak barrels from several coopers, with 47% new oak, and left on lees without racking until bottling 12/17/98, with cold stabilization and sterile filtration. Analyses at bottling: 14.6% alcohol, 3.69 pH, 6.0 g/l TA and 0.14% RS. 400 cases made

Quotes

Wine.com, June 22, 2000. ... bears a striking resemblance to a very good white Burgundy-Chassagne-Montrachet from Verget, for instance, or even Niellon. Ripe and full but extremely elegant, this is a wine to showcase alongside a roast veal chop and roast baby potatoes.

Beverage Testing Institute (BTI), January, 2000- 91. 5th out of 288 wines judged.

The Wine Advocate, December 1999, 88. ...displays sweet yellow plums and hints of apricots in its aromas. Medium-bodied, oily textured, and impressively ripe, this thick extroverted wine is packed with golden fruit and oak spice flavors. It is certainly one of the finest chardonnays that has been crafted in Oregon.

The Wine Iconoclast, August, 1999 (Bob Mayfield), Clonal Issue: Wo doggies, this is it. Look no further. I'd run out of ink before superlatives. I especially love the subtle, judicious use of oak. In fact, there's nothing out of proportion. Dense complex flavors ranging from baked apple through citrus, in balance with the medium-to-heavy body, nice acidity. A profound delight.