2024 Chardonnay, White Salmon Vineyard

The vines at White Salmon Vineyard average twenty years old and are planted in volcanic clay loam on their own roots, meaning they aren’t grafted onto root stock. The vineyard itself is located at 550 feet in elevation on the eastern slope of Underwood Mountain, which is located in the Columbia Gorge American Viticultural Area (AVA). This AVA is the western-most AVA east of the Cascade Mountains and it is located on the Columbia River. The river’s large body of water, combined with both the weather patterns and elevation, result in much cooler temperatures than we experience in the rest of Eastern Washington.

The way that we produce our Chardonnay is tried and true, allowing us to consistently produce the style for which we are known and that we also enjoy. Those techniques include barrel fermentation in 100% French oak, only 25% of which are new barrels; then, we utilize multiple strains of yeast; and we put the wine through only a partial malo-lactic (ML) fermentation. The result is a Chardonnay that is bright, complex, and balanced. The low percentage of new wood means the wood contribution is integrated and more like a spice. The partial ML and the strain we use means that the delicate aromas are not sacrificed for that rich character of butter, but the acidity on the palate has a creaminess to it because of the conversion of malic acid to lactic acid.

This Chardonnay reveals itself beautifully in a Burgundy glass and please don’t over-chill it. Its nose is quiet at first, then it opens to reveal ripe, fragrant pear and fresh-cut pineapple tinted with vanilla and graham cracker. Flavors of creamy lemon meringue and waxy star fruit coat the mouth. The finish is long and supple with just enough acid to balance any richness. This wine is a pretty, balanced, understated Chardonnay.