2015 Citation Oregon Chardonnay

“There is more than enough Chardonnay produced without eloquence: oaky, alcohol-laden and insipidly fruity. We approach this alluring grape differently: combining the richness of New World fruit with the classic structure of the old world’s artistry.” -Howard Rossbach
 

We have again crafted a white wine worthy of the Citation label, an exceptional Chardonnay packed with aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, butterscotch and vanilla.  The wine is rich and mouth-filling with a touch of toasty oak followed by a hint of baking spices on the lingering finish.

 In 2015, a warm winter, spring and summer set the stage for the earliest Oregon harvest to date, again.  On August 30th and September 15th, perfectly ripe grapes were harvested from two small plantings of Chardonnay.  The first, nestled high in the foothills of Oregon’s Blue Mountains and the second, atop the spectacular Erratic Oaks Vineyard in the heart of the Willamette Valley.

 After whole-cluster pressing and barrel-fermentation, the wines aged in French oak barrels (15% new) for 12 months.  By blending high-elevation old-vine Chardonnay with our young Dijon clone planting, we hope to achieve new levels of complexity, richness and balance.