Similarly, Jackson Family Wines’ Gran Moraine Pinot Noir from the Yamill-Cerlton AVA in Willamette Valley was awarded a Gold medal, proving the prowess of Oregon Pinot, although both wines are in the higher price bracket of HK$400-HK$799. Gold medal.

Asian Pinot Noir Masters: Gold

Soft, juicy, elegant and fruity with tart aromas and flavours of cranberry, pomegranate and cherry. A touch of leather, earth and dried herbs. Very soft tannins and a juicy finish. Think tuna tartare, fried oysters and baked salmon.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The next wine Shane poured was a real treat, the 2013 Estate Reserve. It was funky in all the right ways and slightly delicate. Mushroom, dirt, cranberry, huckleberry, Acai and bitter flower petals made for a very intriguing and interesting wine. We talked briefly about the 2013 vintage, which followed the highly touted 2012. Shane and I agreed that we preferred the 2013s, which show more finesse and elegance compared to the bigger 2012s. The 2013 Estate Reserve is a good example of this dichotomy between vintages. Shane said that the 2012s were already as good as they would get, whereas the 2013 has many years left to improve. I don’t normally reveal whether I buy any wines from a visit to take home, but I’ll mention that we stuffed one of these into our carry-on and are anxiously awaiting 2023 to open it.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The second chardonnay was the 2015 Dropstone, of which only 50 cases was produced. It’s a single block effort, and has wonderful notes of salty caramel, green apple and lemon curd. The acid forms the foundation of a gorgeous and engaging texture that is smooth in the middle ringed by slightly twitchy edges. I didn’t have much time to spend with this one, but I wish I had because I got the feeling it had a lot to offer after a nice decant.

The Best Wines to Serve on Easter Chardonnay is always a crowdpleaser, and this bottling from Oregon—aged for 16 months in French oak from Burgundy—offers a versatile palette of melon and peach with a hint of salinity on the finish that makes it a fine pairing for all of your Easter table favorites.

The Perfect Christmas Wines For The Holiday Season Think creamy, peach yoghurt, vanilla brioche and floral notes of daffodil. On the palate, enjoy a creamy, rounded texture with flavours of fresh melon, lemon curd tart and peach crumble. A mouth-wateringly good combination of both oak and acidity create an incredible balanced and seriously good wine!

Chardonnay's New Day Sleek but structured, with a light, bright mouthfeel and summery hints of stone fruit.

Wines of the Week The prestigious Gran Moraine Vineyard – five miles west of Carlton, Oregon - was planted in 2005 to several different Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This wine is a fantastic testament to the potential of Oregon Chardonnay, offering aromas of stone fruits, tropical citrus and brioche followed by rich flavors of pear and apricot with mineral and crisp acidity on the finish.

15 Awesome Summer Wines Lovely baked bread, baked apple, ripe pear, lemon curd, and spice. Super savory. Get a good amount of the oak, but it’s well integrated and not distracting. Has a great lighter style body, yet boldly flavored and fresh in the mouth. Loved this one.

Chardonnay Masters 2017: Gold

A leaner, dry, slightly austere style featuring citrus and green apple fruits. Nicely integrated acidity and the slightest oak input.

Floral and lemony, with rippling acidity. Two stars.

Matured for 16 months in French oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks. Hint of matchstick. Racy and fresh. Good grip. But not intense! 16/20.

A warm vintage made for an early September harvest at Gran Moraine Vineyard, a 210-acre site in the foothills west of Carlton, Ore., that’s well into its second decade of life in the Willamette Valley. This Jackson Family Wines project features a selection of Dijon clones and a 16-month barrel program. A small percentage of those barrels were new, and that sets up the theme of toasted almond, lemon and Bosc pear, making for a vibrant structure that picks up minerality along the way to a finish of toffee, pistachio and caramel Granny Smith apple.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The 2015 Yamhill-Carlton chardonnay remains a close friend of mine. At $45 it is by no means inexpensive, but it over-delivers and is my standard for domestic chardonnay at and around the price. I reviewed this wine in 2018 for an Oregon extravaganza piece, and gave it 93 points with an “A” value rating. I didn’t pick up on it at the time, but at the winery the nose was like a freshly opened box of Cheerios. There is also sweet oak, dried mango, honeysuckle, vanilla custard and a smidge of Earl Grey tea. It’s a plush medium weight on the palate with a bit of a glycerin sensation that I just love. The barrel’s influence is restrained but present in the structure and flavors as well as the nose; it’s managed just right for this profile. There’s oak vanillin, Meyer lemon, sweet cream, Thai basil, persimmon and dried apricot.

Most wine Drinkers Don't Really Understand Chardonnay Yes, there is some new oak on this wine, but it is extremely restrained, like a well-seasoned dish. A heady nose of peaches and spring blossoms gives way to a broad, brioche-like palate cut through by searing, orange oil acidity.

On Mother's Day, get her a great chardonnay This Oregon gem was one of our favorite chardonnays in this lineup. With character unique to this terroir, the wine has all pistons firing: texture, balance and only a kiss of oak. After the wine gets happy in oak barrels for 16 months, it is transferred to outdoor stainless-steel tanks and left to mature in the cold Northwest winter.

15 wine gift ideas for any budget Everyone knows that Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a source of world class Pinot Noir. Chardonnay thrives there too, but it remains a bit of a secret weapon, as not everyone realizes how well it does. This one is from the Yamhill-Carlton appellation. Granny Smith apple aromas lead the charge here. The palate is simultaneously full-flavored and proportionate. Orchard fruit and bits of green tea are evident on the palate. Minerals and subtle white pepper drive the long finish. Firm acid keeps this Chardonnay refreshing and remarkably food friendly.

The wine showed a straw color. Apple, lemon, honey, buttery oak, almonds and slate each arrived on the rich nose. Apple, lemon, oak, honey, slate and cedar followed on the palate where the wine's time in oak provided a foundation for the ripe fruit. The wine exhibited good acidity and balance, along with good structure and length. This wine would do well as an aperitif and would be the classic pairing for your Thanksgiving turkey.

This wine is very fresh and upfront, featuring flint, apricot, persimmon and kumquat flavours, with a finish as clean as a spring day and with a cleansing balanced acidity. An array of inviting aromas are present, such as Meyer lemon, brown sugar, Asian pear, oregano, a hint of matchstick, white peach, brine, lees and perfume.

The Wines of Oregon and Washington are Poised for Greatness on the World The Gran Moraine Chardonnay 2014 (SRP $45) reminded me a bit of Meursault with its phenomenally complex layers of smoky gunflint minerality, lemon creme, honeysuckle, toasted brioche, baked pear, fennel, and star anise—it’s a blockbuster, and an utter steal at the price.

The prestigious Gran Moraine Vineyard – five miles west of Carlton, Oregon - was planted in 2005 to several different Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The production regimen of this wine included barrel fermentation and lees stirring while completing 14 months in barrel. Gran Moraine Chardonnay is a fantastic testament to the potential of the varietal in Oregon, offering Burgundian character of earth and chalky mineral with complex aromas and flavors of lemon, peach and floral perfume and hints of toast and buttery caramel.

25 of Our Favorite Under-the-Radar California Reds Beringer and Peter Michael put Knights Valley on the map, but it’s this Galerie “Latro” offering that will remind enthusiasts and collectors alike that you can still pickup quality mountain Cabernet for under around $50. The “Latro” is dark and opulent with an herbal and mineral edge that conjures a broad-shouldered but balanced Left Bank Bordeaux. Beautiful blackberry and blackcurrant adorn the mid-palate with a contrast of graphite and crushed rocks that adds depth to the finish.

Overall score: 17.5 (9 for quality, 8.5 for value) Our tasters: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with three scores of 9 or higher. "Lovely black fruit. Herbal notes." My score: 9.2. "Nice structure. Tannic, elegant." Winemaker Laura Díaz Muños blends fruit from Atlas Peak, St. Helena, Diamond Mountain and Howell Mountain vineyards, ages the finished wine for 20 months in French oak – about half of it new – then bottles it unfined and unfiltered.