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2021 Elk Cove Vineyards Chardonnay Mount Richmond, USA, Oregon, Yamhill-Carlton, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

One of the old guards of Oregon, this winery had gotten away from Chardonnay for a time, but in the last decade they revived it.  This is 100% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, slight green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is classic with lemon peel, nutmeg, and slight dust.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture (stirring of the lees?).  Light tannins.  On  the palate, this has slightly crisp, tart acidity.  Flavors of Meyer lemons with nice minerality.  Long finish.  This is a very good, middle of the road, Chardonnay that drinks wonderfully on its own and will work well with the usual foods; s

2019 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Chehalem, Laurelwood District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is 100% Pinot Noir from non-grafted vines planted in the 70's and 80's.  One of the best Oregon Pinots tasted.  Medium ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is classic with cherries, slight sour cherries, sandalwood, and tea leaves.  Complex if tight.  Medium bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is young but complex.  Cherries, black cherries, slight Kirsch with some underlying forest floor and spice.  Not a big wine, but very concentrated.  Long finish with slight warmth.  This should improve a bit as it ages.  drink over the next eight to

2021 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Laurelwood District, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$47.00USD

This is 100% Pinot Noir from Oregon.  Medium ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, cranberries with a touch of black cherries.  Also, some dust and spice.  Plush texture.  Medium to firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is a bit more robust.  Cherries, black cherries, slight anise and spice.  Deep.  A bit of mint on the finish.  This is drinking quite well once it opens.  Bigger in style for Oregon and very accessible.  It should drink well for six to eight more years.  It would  work nicely with meaty fish but also a nice choice with Roasted T

2021 Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Laurelwood District, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

This is 100% Chardonnay from Oregon.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon curd, slight melon and spice.  Full bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is reasonably crisp with lemon, slight lemon candy and spice.  Nice finish.  Overall, this is a very nice Chardonnay which drinks nicely on its own and will certainly work with seafood or vegetarian dishes.  It has enough body to work with pork or fowl as well.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2021 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Calkins Lane Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Chehalem Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is 100% Pinot Noir from Oregon.  It spends ten months in oak.  In terms of style it is a bit on the bigger style (for Oregon).  Medium ruby in color with some purple hues, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black raspberries, sandalwood and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Nice juicy texture.  Good acidity.  Medium tannins come out with air.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries and slight black raspberries.  Long finish with slight warmth.  This needs some time and will almost certainly improve with good cellaring.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It is gr

2021 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Breaking Ground, USA, Oregon, Chehalem Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is 100% Pinot Noir aged for ten months in French Oak (30% new).  Medium ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with sour cherries, strawberries, walnuts and spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  More presence on the palate right now.  Sour cherries, cherries, spice and char.  A bit of kirsch on the finish along with some spice.  This is middle of the road in terms of Pinot style and it is interesting how the nose is more elegant but the palate a bit more masculine.  Very nice on its own, this would work well with roasted duck (or chicken).  It may improve with some shor

2021 Adelsheim Chardonnay Ribbon Springs Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Ribbon Ridge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is their top Chardonnay.  Very impressive.  Light golden in color with a touch of green and a slight touch of copper.  Clear and bright.  The nose has baked apples, wild herbs, slight vanilla and a touch of grapefruit.  Lovely, full bodied, texture.  Good balance.  Crisp.  On the palate, the baked apples and vanilla come thru along with a touch of lemon curd.  This is a bigger rounder Chardonnay at least in this vintage.  Great on its own and this will work well with richer foods as well as the usual pairings.  It would be nice with a creamy mushroom pasta with alfredo sauce.  Drink ov

2021 Adelsheim Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

Adelsheim was established in Oregon in 1971.  This is their basic Chardonnay and it is excellent and a great value.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with grapefruit, slight peaches, limes and a bit of minerality.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity. Great, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is very clean.  Some grapefruit with slight peach.  A bit of pine on the back end.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and will be versatile with food.  It would work well with seafood such as Crab Salad.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2016 Adelsheim Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Bryan Creek Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Chehalem Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

This is a lovely sparkling wine from Oregon.  It is 100% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a full mousse with a thick head of tiny bubbles.  The nose is persistent with lemons and some lanolin notes.  With a bit of air, some apple notes emerge.  Good acidity.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, fresh lemons and slight chalky notes.  A long, slightly tart finish.  Overall, this is an excellent sparkling wine that should drink well for another decade.  It is very food friendly and will work with a wide variety of foods.  It was very nice with a French Lentil Sa

Calera 2021 Mt. Harlan Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Calera winery has been making wine for almost 50 years. But few people ever visit this winery. It’s way off the normal wine experience, being sequestered in the Gavilan Mountain range near the tiny town of Hollister. But that is also its best quality. There is a lovely viscosity to this Chardonnay - a thickness that rolls over the tongue. Yes, you will find the requisite lemon chiffon, lime kefir, white peach, green apple and Asian pear.

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