2023 Bookwalter Readers Chardonnay Washington State

2023 J Bookwalter Readers Chardonnay

Winery Notes

FINAL BLEND: 75% Chardonnay 10% Riesling 10% Viognier 4% Sémillon 1% Muscadelle

APPELLATIONS: 100% Columbia Valley AVA

VINEYARDS: 100% Gamache Vineyard

VINTAGE NOTES: The 2023 vintage began with a post-harvest December cold snap that put some stress on the vines, which were still active from the extended warm fall. Winter was moderate & dry. Delayed bud break in late April signaled a cooler vintage, but warm temperatures soon closed the gap, creating an advanced bloom in late May. Summer’s temperatures were steady & balanced, allowing the growing season to expand without early shutdown. Verasion started in mid-July. Steady fall temps retained the phenolic balance through harvest, lasting early September until the first frost in early November.

WINEMAKING NOTES: Our Chardonnay was harvested in mid-September with a mix of handpicking and machine harvesting in the early morning hours to lock in freshness and acidity. Upon the fruit’s arrival, it was hand sorted then went into the press whole cluster and lightly pressed under reductive conditions to retain the bright, fresh acidity. Our Chardonnay was fermented and aged in a steel tank on lees for five months, with a small portion aging in neutral French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation was inhibited to retain the wines natural acidity. Prior to bottling the wine was sterile filtered.

AROMATICS: Meyer lemon, orange blossoms, hints of white peach & golden apple