current release
2022 Iron filbert vineyard CHARDONNAY
winemaker notes
This vintage of our Iron Filbert Vineyard Chardonnay is a vivid yellow with hints of gold and aromatically opulent. A pleasant minerality and vibrant acidity balance the generous palate. Subtle flavors of sage and honeycomb round out the elongated finish. Will age gracefully for many years to come.
winemaking details
Sourced from the highest elevation block of our organically farmed Iron Filbert Vineyard in the Dundee Hills, featuring clones 95 & 76. Sorted slowly by hand and pressed whole-cluster with no settling time before barreling down. 100% barrel fermented with native yeasts, undergoing full malolactic fermentation. Aged on lees for 11 months in 5% new French oak. Alcohol of 12.5%.
vintage notes
The 2022 growing season in the Willamette Valley began with a mild winter that turned into a warm and dry March, prompting an earlier bud break. A one-in-every-50-year weather phenomenon occurred in mid-April with a frost event, followed by cool and wet weather in late April and May. The frost and subsequent conditions affected buds that had begun emerging from dormancy and set vine growth back 2 to 4 weeks. Thankfully, warm weather came in late June, just in time for flowering phases, and helped produce a great fruit set and rapid shoot growth.
Summer was marked by a few heat spikes, but the water-soaked soils from a wetter spring allowed the vines to produce a healthy canopy and carry them through the season. Late summer and early fall witnessed cool nights and warm days, which facilitated the retention of acidity in the grapes and prolonged hang time. October was hotter than average, allowing the grapes to fully mature before cooler temperatures arrived. Overall, the season remained moderate and ideal for grape maturation.
The vineyard management practices employed during the 2022 growing season played a crucial role in shaping the quality of the wines. Meticulous vineyard management efforts resulted in outstanding grape quality for the 2022 vintage. Pinot Noir, the flagship grape of the Willamette Valley, demonstrated exceptional depth and complexity. The berries achieved optimal phenolic ripeness, offering a balance of rich fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and well-integrated tannins.
wine information
This top tier showcases a very limited barrel selection of 4 barrels and two puncheons. Only 186 cases were produced in 2022. Fruit for this label is sourced from our organically farmed Iron Filbert Vineyard in the Dundee Hills.
reviews
2022 vintage | 94 points James Suckling
This is very structured with iron, dried apple, lemon rind, and caramel aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, tight and focused texture. Flavorful and very long. Lots of character but holds back at the end. Better in a year or two. Drink or hold.
2022 vintage | 93 points Wine Spectator
Fragrant and sleek, with refined pear and lemon flavors accented with orange peel and blanched almond. Drink now. — TF
2021 vintage | 95 points James Suckling
This is very solid with dried apple and pear. Some flint and ash undertones. Some iron, too. It’s solid and reserved with excellent structured and tightness. Salty finish. Very structured. Give this time. Better after 2025.
2021 vintage | 94 points Wine Spectator
Lovely, rich and refined, offering graceful apple and lemon flavors laced with blanched almond and stony mineral notes as this build richness and complexity on the lush, crisp finish. Drink now through 2025. — TF
2018 vintage | 93 points James Suckling
Mandarin orange, squeezed tangerine and pungent lemongrass followed by beeswax with intense flint and matchbox minerality. Medium body and crisp acidity with underlying peppery green notes in the mid-palate and finish. Beautifully developed yet still has nice tension with crunchiness. Drink or hold.
2017 vintage | 93 points James Suckling
This has intensity and focus with bright grapefruit and white peaches, as well as pear and spice notes. The palate has concentration and fresh acidity, underpinning nicely contained structure.
2017 vintage | 93 points Wine Spectator
Alluring and expressive lemon and apricot aromas mix with crushed stone and toasty lees notes that build richness on the finish. Drink now through 2021. — TF