Aging curve for Oregon Chardonnay

[btyson]

@TKazi

This thread exemplifies the kind of conversations that keep me reading here and learning

This thread was much more informative than I thought it would be when I first opened it!

@CFu

i’d love to carve out this discussion on sulfur/diam into a different thread. It’s very fascinating

This sounds like a great idea, I think there are not enough people who understand sulfur which often leads to thread devolution (ie every argument about ‘natural wine’) so it would be good to have a more educational forum to discuss it

[Saul_Mutchnick]

Apologies if this was explicitly brought up and I missed it, but I think that the aging curve for Oregon Chardonnay has been changing rapidly, at least if we’re talking about the Willamette Valley as a whole. I had a 2012 W-S Cuvee Anne not long ago and it was fantastic, with plenty of life left, but I think that it’s the outlier from that time period in terms of both style and ageworthiness. From picking decisions (especially) to pressing/early oxidation and solids management during fermentation, to length of elevage and lees contact, there’s a lot more seriousness to Chard production here now than even 10-12 years ago. And I suspect that’s just the start.

[TKazi]

My response below to you, Marcus, was pulled into the Diam thread. It’s more suited to this thread on Chardonnay and aging.

Frozen in Time: the interplay of sulfur levels and the use of Diam corks

This thread exemplifies the kind of conversations that keep me reading here and learning. I read a fair amount on wine (other than Wine Berserker, I’m presently in Lepeltier’s great One Thousand Vines) and there’s a temptation to simply follow advice that I’m learning to trust. I’m resisting this temptation. One way I branch out and make my wine consumption interesting – a little craft in itself – is by trying unlikely OR Chardonnays to better understand how they taste young and age, and Grochau…

[Marcus_Goodfellow]

Not to be a drag but 1992 was marked by a lot of early heat. The Eyrie vines were more mature than anywhere else in the Valley but most of the 1992s, red and white, that I have had have not aged well. That said, if anyone were to have succeeded in bucking that trend it would be David Lett. I hope that your bottles contradict this post.

I was once fortunate to try a bottle of 1996 Rex Hill Chardonnay, around 2018, that was extremely good.

[ChrisJames]

@Will_Hamilton

My 2018 Chardonnay from the Coast Range Vineyard near McMinnville is electric stuff, and unbending-nearly as youthful as in its first year. My 2019 from Sojeau and Black Walnut are mature and not nearly as vibrant, probably should be consumed. I believe this has to do with the relative acid profiles–the younger vines from both sites in '19 evolving much more rapidly with noticeably less vibrating characters.

Hi Will,

Thanks for posting this. I have all three of these Chardonnay from a visit with you long ago and was planning on holding the 2019s for a number of years yet. I guess I should dig them out!

[Will_Hamilton]

I would enjoy the 19s sooner than later for my palate…lovely wines but the fruit has dissipated. The 18 Coast Range could sit for a while if you like, and it will only pick up weight which I think will be positive

[Will_Hamilton]

This thread is really calling for a throwdown. I am going to toss the idea around to some folks here and try to put together a tasting of Chardonnays, some from producers mentioned above, of wines that have aged more than 8-10 years…I’d be happy to host this at the winery if we have enough enthusiasm and/or bottlings to check out

[Rick_Allen]

I’d love to participate, though the number of older bottles of Oregon Chardonnay is limited (they tend to get drunk sooner rather than later). I do have 2015 Walter Scott X Novo and 2015 Eyrie Original Vines Chardonnays…

[Jeff_W1]

I would love to participate with enough advance notice to make the trip!

[robertl]

This would be amazing!!

[Brady_Daniels]

I’d be in, but also am lacking in older Chards. Happy to try and track something down.

[Keith_A_k_e_r_s]

I’m just a quick flight from NorCal now, but am happy to pull what Chards I have from storage depending on when this happens

[MChang]

Sounds like an epic event, I’ll be in socal in August would be cool if it lined up.

[Brian_S_t_o_t_t_e_r]

I’d love to join, but just have some 2017 chardonnays as my oldest bottles right now.

[mmeyers]

Not a drag at all. Appreciate the info from your experience. I’m completely realistic about it. I just think it’s interesting and part of the fun, including the opportunity to try something made by David Lett. Hope they are totally dead.

[G_Bienstock]

I am opening a 2014 Walter Scott Cuvee Anne with Zach Mancini tomorrow.

[Adam_Noble]

I’ve drunk 2013 Crowley Four Winds and 2011 Cameron CEB in the past couple of months and both were very good, the Cameron especially fine. I have quite a few Cameron whites back to 2009. And I might still have a 2013 Walter Scott X-Novo. The last of those I opened was 3 years ago and it was fantastic. I also opened a 2012 Cameron Wadsworth (CE) about a year ago and it was singing with plenty of years left.

I would love to participate in a study if at all possible.

[mmeyers]

Would also love to participate in something if at all possible and contribute a few things. I’m due for a trip out that way and would look forward to trying to coordinate if something got organized.

[Brian_Be]

Would also be interest but dont have much older stuff other than 2010 crowley four winds. Rest of the cellar starts with 2017s.

[Mark_Stevens]

I would also like to participate, Will. I have a number of old chards, some pre-2010 including Evening Land Summum and Cameron Clos Electrique.