Winemaker Notes
Very complex and elegant aromas of yellow flowers, musk, incense, lemon blossom and sea spray make are backed up by the palate of bright citrus, spice and green apple, very persistent flavors through the long finish when salinity reappears as a coda. This is a spicy, mouthwatering and seductive Sisters.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The nose gives aromas of fresh pineapple, preserved lemon and struck match. The palate is medium-bodied with integrated acidity, showing notes of nashi pear, grapefruit and green apple. Tightly bound and energetic.
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Vinous
Smoky crushed rocks and nuances of curry leaf give way to nectarine and a hint of spice as the 2022 Chardonnay Sisters blossoms in the glass. Distinctly savory, it offers soft textures and ginger-infused orchard fruit that take on a salty sensation toward the close. Intense citrus leaves a tart chewiness and mouthwatering quality as crunchy mineral tones linger.
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Wine Spectator
Dynamic and precise, with apple, lemon blossom, quince and steely mineral accents that finish on a refreshing note. Drink now. 695 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.
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.