2019 Legacy Elsie's Chardonnay

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

Named after Bill Stoller’s aunt, Elsie’s is considered our most opulent style of Chardonnay from our estate. Alluring aromatics of jasmine and lemon meringue fill the glass, with soft hints of flint and minerality lingering in the background. The palate is mouthwatering vibrant with precision, showing flavors of citrus zest and a touch of minerality on the finish. Carefully blended from barrels of our oldest planted Chardonnay on the estate, our goal for this wine is to craft a synergistic blend designed for longevity. A defining factor of Elsie’s Chardonnay is that it spends an additional six months in neutral puncheons with extended lees contact to facilitate a rich mouthfeel to complement the bright acidity. 

VINTAGE OVERVIEW 

The 2019 vintage was a return to a classic Oregon growing season. Bud break, bloom, lag phase, and harvest dates all fell within days of the 2013 and 2014 vintages. Our estate crop set on target with expected levels for all varieties. Moderate summer weather persisted, presenting very few heat spikes and delivering only one notable record-breaking day in June. Cool, wet weather arrived early in September, pushing ripening and delaying the harvest window. The conditions in late September and October returned to sunny days and brisk nights, allowing us to pick based on ripe fruit flavors and near-perfect natural acidity. 

93 Points - Wine & Spirits