Cristom Chardonnay 2022

Cristom Chardonnay 2022 is an exceptional, elegantly structured, and vibrant white wine masterfully crafted by Cristom Vineyards in Oregon's renowned Willamette Valley. Sourced from a premier blend of benchmark vineyard sites—including the Cristom estate, Paul Gerrie, Royer, and Seven Springs—this wine perfectly captures the volcanic soils and cool marine influence of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, and fermented with native yeasts, it undergoes full malolactic fermentation and is aged for 11 months on its lees in 20% new French oak, followed by five months in stainless steel. In the glass, it displays a bright medium yellow hue. The aromatic bouquet is incredibly complex and inviting, wafting up with notes of sweet chamomile, zesty Meyer lemon, and fresh white peach, elegantly layered with delicate hints of toasted meringue, brioche, and wet stone minerality. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, supple, and flawlessly balanced, offering a vibrant core of tart orchard fruits and ginger-tinged citrus. A satisfying, mouth-coating texture is beautifully offset by a piercing, juicy acidity that culminates in a clean, sophisticated, and remarkably long, saline-laced finish.

Food Pairing:

Pairs beautifully with pan-seared scallops, roasted poultry, creamy wild mushroom risotto, grilled lemon-herb halibut, and buttery lobster dishes.

Food Pairing: Pairs beautifully with dry-aged ribeye steak, slow-roasted rack of lamb, venison with berry reduction, rich beef Wellington, or savory duck confit.

93 Points - James Suckling

Plenty of golden apples, lemon zest, sweet spices and toasted brioche on the nose. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-driven and precise, with a vibrant core of fresh lemons lifting the mid-palate and a focused, juicy finish. Drink or hold.