Rating:
91
Jay Miller - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Recommended, but no tasting note given."
"Chehalem invests considerable effort into its white wine program. While these wines are not the focus of this report, they merit mentioning because every one of them is a very good to outstanding value." (10/10)
Product Description:
Wine:
"This Chardonnay is gorgeous, just coming of age after a year in bottle. Essence of candied ginger, lime, white flower and grapefruit pith complement the biscuity, brown sugar, and brioche notes seen throughout. The acidity
needed structurally for a truly ageable Chardonnay is present, but it doesn't interfere with a creamy, voluptuous texture. Flavors and complexing characters include baking spices, apricot, pear, melon, custard and thyme. The
balance is outstanding, the length and flavor persistence excellent for this age, and all the white essence and bright, creamy texture promises one of the best Chardonnays we've made." - Winemaker
"Entirely Dijon clone, this is our attempt to make fine white Burgundy, complete with richness, balance, and great acid structure for aging. Named for Ian Peterson-Nedry, it is our best white and, as vines continue to age, may be
one of the best Chardonnays you've tasted." - Winery
Vineyard:
"A south-sloping, 176-acre vineyard on a 373-acre parcel, Stoller Vineyards is one of our newest vineyards, containing state-of-the-art clones, rootstocks, and planting densities, as well as full viticultural tools 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." - Winery
2008 Vintage:
"The 2008 vintage saw one of the coolest growing seasons on record, with 1,976 degree-days of heat during the growing season, versus the average for the last twelve years of 2,212 degree-days, and second only to 1,968
degree-days in 1999. This vintage resembles 1999 in the counterintuitive ripeness of the crop we finally harvested, and both vintages showed very good acid levels and excellent, full ripeness at lower sugars. Look for
both whites and reds to excel this year, with very ageable wines, rich and complex from release to old age. Lower croploads, almost half-crop in nature, also similar to 1999, brought some of this richness, with harvest
dates that were two-plus weeks later than average but not experiencing significant rainfall." - Winery
This wine was also scored 89 Points by the Wine Spectator.