Review:
The newest gonzo-value in Oregon Chardonnay, Westrey's 2010 Chardonnay could best be described with one word: underpriced. Since I prefer more flowery prose, how about: a surprisingly rich and refined palate, mixing apple and pear with lemon-lime. The beautiful fruit meets clean acidity half-way for a great match. Westrey is on fire!
The Westrey Willamette Valley Chardonnay displays the classic character of the 2010 vintage. Sweet weighty fruit is balance by crisp citrusy acidity. Aromas of sweet vanilla, white peach, subtle oak and ripe pear soar from the glass, as one swirls this wine.
On the palate, the fruit is balanced by focused acidity and is filled out by toasty oak, bread dough and a hint of a slate-like mineral character. The wine has a very Burgundian balance on the palate.
2009 Vintage
From the winery -
Our 2009 Willamette Valley bottling consists of 65% Justice Vineyard Chardonnay (located next to Bethel Heights Vineyard and managed by the same vineyard manager), and 35% 32 year-old Draper Selection fruit from our estate, Oracle Vineyard, located in the Dundee Hills.
Each lot was vinified separately in French oak (about 25% new wood) using eight different yeasts. The wine underwent a complete malo-lactic fermentation before bottling. It was left on the lees during the aging process to add a slight yeasty character and a velvety texture. After a traditional Burgundian clarification regime during cold-stabilization, the wine was bottled in mid-September, 2010 without filtration.
410 cases produced
2008 Vintage
Westrey Willamette Valley Chardonnay 08 - Bosch pear and peach scents are accented by a hint of spice. Flavors open with Meyer lemon, then more peach and stone fruit, and a delightful Chablis-style minerality in the finish, softened by just the tiniest hint of buttery, still-warm croissant. Great value for such a special Chardonnay. - Jean
The Westrey Chardonnays are made by considering the scents, flavors, and textures of each barrel of Chardonnay in their vintage. The wine in then blended from those barrels, with each wine's style based on the characteristics that Amy and David want for the wine.
From the winery:
The wine displays the ripe and balanced character of the 2008 vintage. Sweet,
opulent fruit is balance by crisp citrusy acidity. Aromas of sweet vanilla, white
peach, subtle oak and ripe pear soar from the glass. On the palate, the fruit is
balanced by focused acidity and is filled out by toasty oak, bread dough and a
hint of a slate-like mineral character. The wine has a very Burgundian balance on
the palate.
Our 2008 Willamette Valley bottling consists of 38% Dijon clone 548, 9%
Dijon clone 76, 29% Dijon clone 95 from the Justice Vineyard (located next to
Bethel Heights Vineyard and managed by the same vineyard manager), and 24%
Draper Selection from our estate, Oracle Vineyard, located in the Dundee Hills.
Each lot was vinified separately in French oak (about 25% new wood)
using seven different yeasts. The wine underwent a complete malo-lactic
fermentation before bottling. It was left on the lees during the aging process to
add a slight yeasty character and a velvety texture. After a traditional Burgundian
clarification regime during cold-stabilization, the wine was bottled in
mid-September, 2009 without filtration. 251 cases produced.
2007 Vintage
Our 2007 Willamette Valley bottling consists of 29% Dijon clone 76 from the Justice Vineyard (located next to Bethel Heights Vineyard and managed by the same vineyard manager), and 71% Draper Selection from our estate, Oracle Vineyard, located in the Dundee Hills AVA.
The wine displays the ripe and balanced character of the 2007 vintage. Sweet fruit is balance by crisp lemony acidity. Aromas of sweet vanilla, white peach, subtle oak and ripe pear soar from the glass. On the palate, the fruit is balanced by citrusy acidity and is filled out by toasty oak, bread dough and a hint of a slate-like mineral character. The wine has a very Burgundian balance on the palate. Each lot was vinified separately in French oak (about 25% new wood) using seven different yeasts. The wine underwent a complete malo-lactic fermentation before bottling. It was left on the lees during the aging process to add a slight yeasty character and a velvety texture. The wine was bottled in mid-September, 2008 without filtration or cold-stabilization and may have a small amount of sediment in the bottle. - the winery