2023 Brittan Vineyards Chardonnay McMinnville Valley

Robert Brittan developed a love for Chardonnay during his tenure as the first winemaker at Far Niente Winery in the early 1980’s, a passion that continued to grow during his 16 years at Stags’ Leap Winery. In 2004, Robert decided to leave California and start a vineyard project in the cool climate of the northern Willamette Valley, the home of the finest New World Chardonnay grown today.

AVA: McMinnville

VINEYARD: Brittan Estate Vineyard

CASES PRODUCED: 461 cases and 42 magnums

SELECTIONS: 4, 30, 95, 96, 124, 548, 809

ELEVAGE: 10 months in French oak, 35% new

DATE BOTTLED: July 25, 2024

ALCOHOL: 13.0%

SRP: $

50/ 750 mL, $110/ 1.5 L

VINEYARD NOTES:  The Brittan Vineyard lies just 12 miles southwest of McMinnville, tucked into the foothills of the Coast Range. The original 18 acres were planted in 2001, but due to the challenging nature of this site and limited topsoil, only eight acres survived. Since 2004 when Robert and Ellen purchased the vineyard, it has been an ongoing rehabilitation project: replanting, retraining, and learning the unique landscape that has become Brittan Vineyard.

VINTAGE NOTES:  Following an unusually cold spring, the 2023 vintage was warm and dry, with low disease pressure across the vineyard. The warm  start to summer gave us the shortest interval between bud break and flowering we had ever seen. In the second year of recovery after a permanent cover crop reset, the vineyard saw robust growth and lush foliage. A heat event in August didn’t affect our 4 acres of Chardonnay, which delivered a historically high yield for our vineyard. The wines from 2023 have good  concentration, slightly relaxed acids, and are wonderfully approachable in their youth.

TASTING NOTES:  Our 2023 Estate Chardonnay has remarkable clarity, verve, and precision. Golden apple, Bartlett pear, and fig notes balance the moderate oak, baking spice and citrus zest on the nose. There’s a lovely earthy minerality on the palate that beautifully complements the wine’s texture and acidity. Pair with heirloom tomato tart or creamy crab and chanterelle pasta. Drink now through 2038.