Evening Land La Source Chardonnay 08
Wine Advocate 93 points!
Wine Advocate: The 2008 Chardonnay La Source was fermented with native yeasts and barrel-fermented in 30% new oak with full malolactic fermentation. It reveals considerably more minerality accompanying flavors of spiced apple, poached pear, brioche, and hazelnuts. Super-concentrated with outstanding depth and precision, on the palate butterscotch and tropical notes make cameo appearances. This lengthy effort is likely to evolve in the manner of the finest white Burgundies. - Jay Miller
When making Chardonnay, Evening Land subscribes to the notion "the hardest thing to do is nothing." No tinkering, no excessive stirring, just leaving the juice alone for 18 months until it's ready. Not to over-simplify things, but that seems to be the distinguishing factor of truly great Oregon Chardonnays.
La Source Chardonnay 08 comes from the 1984-planted block of Seven Springs Chardonnay. Fat yet racy, finding the perfect balance of mineral and fruit, La Source is more open for drinking than the Summum 08, but I'd still anticipate that it will age 4-6 years. - Marcus
Wine Spectator's Harvey Steiman says: "If anything the (2008)Chardonnays are a step up from 2007, which seemed to expand on the previous vintage with more depth and, at the same, more transparency."
Steiman also said "In a way, it’s not surprising that Chardonnay did so well. Lafon is famous for his white Burgundies, and his touch is palpable in the Oregon wines. In particular, I was taken with how transparently they expressed the stony terroir."
More from Steiman: "The first vintage, 2007, produced a stunning pair of Chardonnays, which I rated 94 and 93 points. Their balance, power and distinct minerality mark them as turning points for Oregon, great wines and influential over other producers of Chardonnay."
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2007 Vintage Tasting Notes
Evening Land Vineyards La Source Chardonnay 07 shows qualities in Oregon Chardonnay never encountered before. Wine may be made in the vineyard, but clearly, the winemaker adds that magical something special. And Dominique Lafon takes Seven Springs Vineyard's old vine fruit to a level comparable to his famed white Burgundies of Mersault, where he surely reigns as king.
Visiting Domaine Comtes-Lafon must be a religious experience. Neal Martin (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate) says: 'A great wine from Dominique Lafon is something that will be etched upon your vinous memory for many year." I'll be remembering this Seven Springs Chardonnay for a long long time.
91 points - Wine Advocate says:
Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator says: "straddling the gulf between steely and creamy. The pear, white nectarine, mineral, clove and nutmeg aromas jump from the glass and then drape silkily over the palate...what California Chardonnay has this kind of depth and distinction at 12.8% alcohol?"
Winery Tasting Notes
Long a source for benchmark Oregon Pinot Noir, the Seven Springs Vineyard is now a 'monopole' vineyard estate. Seven Springs was first planted in 1981. Occupying the "belly" of an easy-facing ridge in the Eola Hills of Oregon's Willamette Valley, the soils of Seven Springs spring from the mineral rich red volcanic rock and are planted to a mix of Oregon Heritage and Dijon clones. Winemaker: Isabelle Meunier with Dominique Lafon, consulting winemaker.
La Source Pinot Noir and La Source Chardonnay are made from vines that are planted atop a section called the "La Source Cross". The "La Source Cross" was formed by a river of lava that flowed from the top Western edge of the Vineyard to the Eastern belly of the hill before spreading out to the North and South. Soils in this area are of the Nekia series and the top soil is considerably shallower than in the rest of the Vineyard. Typically, top-soil depth in the La Source Cross runs between 2 and 5 feet.
