A New World Chardonnay approaching perfection, this wine like all the 00 Chardonnay's goes through the ‘Black Chardonnay’ method, coming from the very old Chehalem Mountain Vineyard site, planted by Dick Erath in 1969, the third in the Willamette Valley, to own rooted Wente Clone Chardonnay. It's beguilingly reductive in the aromatics, as chipped flint smokiness layers on top of grilled pineapple laced with clover honey and candied ginger on the fringes. The palate is lithe, lively and edgy as ocean brine frames ripe and full Meyer lemon pulp, a gorgeous creaminess brightened by green mangoes and ripe grilled peach. Intense and complete. (CP) - Decanter

Flint, green apples and white rosemary on the nose, reductive to start with, opening up to wildflower honey, lemon curd and bread. Deliciously saline and creamy on the palate, with a salted-butter edge to the flinty and zesty fragrances. Full-bodied and layered. From Wente clones. Better from 2026. (CN) - James Suckling