Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
One of the richest, most expansive chardonnays from 00 Wines, this goes deep in poached apple, marzipan and brown butter flavors backed by vivid acidity. So alive, layered and concentrated yet light on its feet, with moderate alcohol of 13.5%.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Pouring a bright golden yellow color, the 2022 Chardonnay Freya Hermann Cuvee sees two years in barrel. Notes of smoky earth, brûléed lemon, custard, vanilla, and pure green apples all emerge from the glass. Full-bodied, it’s the same wine, but with more aging, and has a rounded feel. It takes things up a notch, with Grand Cru-like richness, a silky texture from this undisclosed site, and a long, lingering finish that lasts for ages.
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Vinous
Each time I revist the 2022 Chardonnay Freya Hermann Cuvée, there is something new to find: wildflowers, shavings of ginger, lime zest, fresh pine, nectarines, apricots and a whiff of incense. The palate is texturally deep, silken and round with elegantly ripe pit fruits. Zesty acidity propels a twang of sour citrus as perfumed inner florals arc across the senses. The finish is dramatically long and staining yet remains fresh, leaving behind nuances of oyster shell and a hint of spice that linger.
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Decanter
With the same Eola-Amity Hills sourcing as the Richard Hermann bottling, the Freya Hermann Cuvée spends additional time in elévage, spending two full years in barrel. Reductive yet unctuous with a stunning texture owing to the ‘Black Chardonnay’ methodology that 00 adheres to. Aromas of smoky grilled pineapple, petrichor and grilled lemon wedge. The palate is hedonistic, with lush tropical fruits, deep lemon curd notes and a saline streak that lifts this wine to such great heights.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Running north to south, adjacent to the Willamette River, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA has shallow and well-drained soils created from ancient lava flows (called Jory), marine sediments, rocks and alluvial deposits. These soils force vine roots to dig deep, producing small grapes with great concentration.
Like in the McMinnville sub-AVA, cold Pacific air streams in via the Van Duzer Corridor and assists the maintenance of higher acidity in its grapes. This great concentration, combined with marked acidity, give the Eola-Amity Hills wines—namely Pinot noir—their distinct character. While the region covers 40,000 acres, no more than 1,400 acres are covered in vine.