Winemaker Notes
The nose reveals a captivating interplay of mineral essence, hints of tropical fruits, and a subtle briny undertone, composing a truly exquisite bouquet. On the palate, a lively dance of zesty lemon, the earthy sweetness of candy cap mushrooms, and the bright succulence of pineapple takes center stage. This particular chardonnay has garnered acclaim as one of their finest vintages to date.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Generous yet elegant in structure, with expressive flavors of apple and apricot that take on hints of spices and vanilla. Drink now. 600 cases made.
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.
Stretching southwest from the city of McMinnville, the AVA with the same name covers about 40,000 acres across 20 miles until it meets the Van Duzer Corridor. This corridor is the only break in the Coast Range whose gap allows the cool Pacific Ocean air to flow eastward into the Willamette Valley.
The Pacific's moderating winds hit McMinnville’s south and southeast facing slopes where cool-climate varieties—namely Pinot noir and Pinot blanc thrive on ridges at between 200 to 1,000 feet in elevation.
Soils here are primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loam and silt, with alluvial formations; McMinnville receives less rainfall than its neighbors to the east because it is situated in the rain shadow of the Coast Range.