The Eyrie Vineyards The Eyrie Chardonnay 2019

The Eyrie Vineyards The Eyrie Chardonnay is a single-vineyard white from the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Willamette Valley.

Those vines went into the ground in 1965, planted to the Draper selection. Each year Jason Lett picks the barrels for this bottling, and since he wants it to taste of the site above all, he works proportionally so that every block appears somewhere in the blend. He tastes each barrel and chooses the ones that play well together, not necessarily his favourites; a blend of only those, he reckons, would end up dull, and often a barrel that underwhelmed alone is what brings the whole thing to life. The 2019 autumn was among the most Burgundian he has seen. Fruit was gently destemmed, crushed and slowly pressed, fermented with full malolactic in mostly old wood, 9.5 per cent new, then a year on lees in the cool cellar.

Fine-boned and savoury, with lemon curd, white flowers, oatmeal and a saline mineral finish; the oak sits well back. Serve at 11 to 12 degrees. Good with turbot, roast chicken, or a truffled mushroom omelette.

*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.