I was doing some inventory today and was going through what I had for Oregon Chardonnay and I have quite a few bottles ranging from 2017-present. How long do people age high quality Chardonnay like X-novo or Goodfellow Richard’s?
I’ve had some 10 year old Goodfellow Richard’s and Walter Scott Cuvee Anne that were holding up well.
1 Like
I’m hoping Walter Scott and Goodfellow can go a long way, given the rate I’m accumulating them!
Good thread here with some educated anecdata:
5 Likes
This is a bit like asking how you like your steak cooked. Some people argue that OR Chardonnay is great going 20-30 years. A year or two ago, I posted that the 2015 GF Richard’s Cuvee was in a great drinking zone. However, my last two bottles were a bit disappointing. They were not bad, but they lacked the vibrant electricity that I desire. Those were my last two bottles of 2015 and I have moved on to 2016s. I think I will have one tonight to see how it is doing. So back to steak, some people like it cooked well done (whites well aged), but I don’t like it past medium rare.
3 Likes
I guess my question was more how does it age vis a vis premier cru or grand cru white burgundy?
But only those under Diam, of course. I’ve no idea on that one.
17+ WB is mostly (but not 100%) safe.
Nevertheless, if I am saying that the 2015 Richard’s was a bit too on the aged side (for me), you might want to check in on a 2017. I just pulled a 2016 for tonight. My inventory sheet said I had four (of six), but it turns out that I only have two left, so I must think they are drinking pretty well now.
2 Likes
11 posts were split to a new topic: Frozen in Time: the interplay of sulfur levels and the use of Diam corks
Sure, I have X Novo back to the first vintage in 2013 and Goodfellow/Matello Richard’s Cuvée back to 2012. Like Chris if you prefer the electricity, I would suggest drinking within 5-10 years. I have some Chablis, but not enough experience to offer a comparison. Burgundy has hundreds of years of experience and you are asking about two of the best Oregon producers with vintages dating back to the early 2000s for Goodfellow/Matello and the early 2010s for Walter Scott. I’m not sure that a fair comparison can be made at this point. I love both producers, but I prefer the vibrancy and laser sharp minerality when consumed on the younger side. Time will tell with the reductive style wines. If I was aging Oregon Chardonnay for an extended period, I would include Eyrie, Cameron and perhaps some others in the discussion. I know that there has been some ongoing discussion regarding recent Cameron vintages and oxidation. I would be more than happy to supply the Oregon wines if you want to arrange a tasting.
2 Likes
FWIW, the 2013 Drouhin Arthur I had last night didn’t quite make the cut. Not offensive in any way, but certainly on its way out. A hint of citrus, a couple of juicy spikes here and there, some warmth in the finish. Memories of better, though likely unspectacular, days.
Drank a few early and mid-2000 Serene Chards that have all been good to very good. Most recently the 2002 Cote Sud.
Michael,
What are you looking for in the aged wines? Just to get a feel for which ones might age in tye manner you are looking for?
Oregon is in a growth curve for sure, and the current producers that I enjoy are pushing the envelope a bit with higher acids, lower alcohols and more drive.
When I was drinking 1er Cru and GC white burgundy and chablis in the 90s, I love the high acid and mineral finish. Most of those wines wanted 10-15 years, or more, usually to fill in around the spine. But there were acid levels that were sometimes off the charts in some of the wines. GC sites like Le Montrachet are usually a little riper, but Corton Charlemagne always was an acidic laser back then.
I would drink Rully, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Meursault/St. Aubin younger, but usually sat on my Puligny(Carillon, Pernod) and Chablis(Dauvissat and Raveneau) for 8-10 years or more.
For Oregon, there’s great energy in the younger wines, then a dumb phase, and then usually they return to form and enter their maturity.
Vintages like 2010, 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2021 have less flesh and more spine. I love they way they are aging now and feel none will be falling off the edge soon. But optimal drinking for anything 2017 and younger is probably further out.
Vintages like 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2018 are softer more fruited vintages that have less drive. These are lovely wines for people that prefer tranquility in their Chardonnay, but all still drink well.
Top producers Chardonnays will last 10-20 pretty easily.
6 Likes
I just want to know when to open the Chardonnay I have.
I guess the oldest Oregon Chardonnay I have is from 17 (Walter Scott, some Goodfellow, suzor)
Are you holding any in quantity? If so, id just pull a bottle and try it. Not nearly the same opportunity cost in dollars as, say, Montrachet.
1 Like
Yeah should probably just check some out at some point.
1 Like
That’s a fair question. For 2017, Goodfellow specifically, I would open the Wilamette Valley now. Ribbon Ridge as well.
For Durant Chardonnay, I think I would open one in the next year or two and then space bottles out every 1-2 years.
For the Whistling Ridge or Richard’s, I would wait another 2 years and look to age 10 to begin drinking it.
Best guess, but I like the 2017s and think they are beginning to open up and show themselves.
The 2017 Crowley Four Winds Chardonnay that I posted in the Oregon Chardonnay thread on Thursday evening was very nice. I counted at least 12+ bottles of the 2017 Goodfellow Richard’s Cuvée. Perhaps it’s time for a check in. The ole lightest blue wax top…
1 Like
It looks like all my goodfellows are 18, 19, 21 and 22.
18 Durant and whistling ridge
19 Durant, temperance, Richard’s, and whistling ridge
21 Richard’s and psycho killer
Plus 21/22 berserkers cuvée and vin soif
I have 17-21 x-novo and some 18 suzor sunflower
I’ve had a handful of those wines over the last year or so. I think that the 2017 and 2018 X Novos are in a great spot. It’s all personal taste I suppose. I know that Scott Tallman, Chris James and others have mentioned their preference for the younger side and I would tend to agree. The 2019 Walter Scott Freedom Hill may be the best Chardonnay that I have tasted upon release. It had that delightful orange tangerine note that I sometimes pick up in Oregon Chardonnay. I’ve had a few bottles over the last year and that note is no longer as pronounced. Perhaps it’s in an awkward phase and it will return. Regardless it’s still a fantastic bottle of wine…
1 Like