The Eyrie Vineyards Chardonnay 2021

The Eyrie Vineyards Chardonnay is a Dundee Hills white from some of Oregon's oldest Chardonnay vine material.

When David Lett planted Chardonnay in 1964 he rejected the UC Davis clones on offer and took mass-selection cuttings from old Californian vines instead, the Draper selection, off plantings from the 1890s and 1930s, because he judged them better suited to Oregon's cool. That material remains the backbone. Since 2015 a portion of Wente and Sterling mass-selection fruit from Sisters Vineyard has joined the original base; in 2021 the split was 61 per cent Draper off 57-year-old vines, 26 per cent Wente and 13 per cent Sterling. Hand-picked bunches were pressed whole in an antique basket press and a Champagne cycle press, then fermented naturally in mostly neutral French oak, five per cent new, with full malolactic and 11 months on unstirred lees.

Taut and mineral, with white peach, lemon pith, hazelnut and a long chalky finish; the oak is barely visible. Serve at 11 to 12 degrees. Good with roast chicken, scallops, or a gratin of leeks and cream.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.