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BRITTAN VINEYARDS ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2022
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s website)
Varietal Composition Chardonnay
Location McMinniville AVA/Willamette/Oregon
Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2032
Cases produced: 118
A Few More Details:
2022 was a challenging but ultimately rewarding vintage. A cool, wet spring and late bud break left the Willamette Valley vulnerable to frost events in April. Our site is a little later than most, so our buds were
just beginning to push when the frost hit. Chardonnay, our lowest elevation block, was most impacted by the frost, with primary bud necrosis leading to severely restricted growth and yields. Late season sun, warmth, and a particularly long rain-free spell in October allowed the grapes to finish ripening in an ideal end to the growing season.
Tasting Notes from the Winemaker
The 2022 Estate Chardonnay captivates with aromas of pear tart, yuzu, white flowers and orange blossoms. Meyer lemon, white nectarine and a hint of nutmeg complement the subtle oak on the palate and lead to a long finish
Food Pairing
Pair this wine with Dungeness crab or herbed roast chicken with potatoes, or enjoy after a meal with a host of cheeses or a persimmon tart.
From them to you:
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. 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.
Source: https://brittanvineyards.com/
PURPLE HANDS LONE OAK RANCH 2022
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s website)
Varietal Composition Pinot Noir
Location Willamette Valley/Oregon
Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2032
James Suckling: 93 Points
A Few More Details:
Lone Oak Ranch is intended as an introduction to Purple Hands, sold exclusively through our distributors. It is a cuvée from seven premier vineyards from five Willamette Valley AVAs: Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton, Ribbon Ridge, Eola-Amity, and Mount Pisgah. This elegant Pinot Noir includes fruit from all of our vineyard-designates.
Aging: 10 months in 5% New French Oak, 45% Neutral French Oak, 50% Stainless Steel
Tasting Notes from the Winemaker
Lavender, watermelon, dried cranberry, dried cherry, licorice, vanilla, candied raspberry, rose, red plum, wild flower, wet stone, cinnamon.
Food Pairing
Pair this wine with roasted poultry, fatty fishes, pork dishes, mushroom risotto, soft cheeses or herb-crusted lamb.
From them to you:
Founded in 2005, Purple Hands celebrates site-specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that unearth the Willamette Valley’s long evolutionary history. Cody Wright, owner & winemaker, has been in the cellar his whole life, with stints at home and abroad— following in his family’s footsteps. Growing up with some of Oregon’s finest winemaking and grape-growing mentors gave Cody a passion for quality and a deep understanding of the work it takes to strive for excellence. The name Purple Hands is meant to depict this work: the work of harvest when your hands are purple and black, rugged from long days and nights of pushing yourself to create and sustain quality. Purple Hands is a message that showcases honesty and purity: in the name, in the vineyard, and in the wines. Using traditional winemaking techniques, we strive to produce wines that convey an honest expression of each of our vineyards—its grapevines and cultivation, soil and stone, sunshine and rain. All of our wines remain unfined and unfiltered at bottling to preserve their natural, pure character. Achieving elegance in this pursuit is the passion and art of our craft.
West Seattle Wine Cellars 