08 Chardonnay

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93 point, Wine Enthusiast

"December 2009. Don’t let the Washington appellation dissuade you, this is 70% Woodward Canyon estate fruit. Aged in 20% new oak, it’s aromatic, a lovely mix of fruits, perfectly assembled. Flavors run from lime to apple, pear to tropical, dusted with toasted hazelnuts and finished with notes of vanilla and caramel."

This 2008 Washington State Chardonnay was produced from Woodward Canyon Estate chardonnay (Clone 108) in the northwestern corner of the Walla Walla Valley and chardonnay (Wente Clone) grown at Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia River Gorge. The grapes were harvested by hand, sorted, and whole cluster pressed. The yield averaged around 2.6 tons per acre, with all grapes harvested by the middle of October. This 2008 Washington State Chardonnay reflects a richness of the Walla Walla Valley due to the higher percentage of fruit from the Estate Vineyard.


Fully mature fruit shows in the mouth; the texture is smooth and silky. The finish is complex, generous, and long. And while this wine may be consumed now, it will benefit substantially with a year in bottle and should continue to improve for another several years, with proper cellaring.

Tasting Notes

Beautifully mature flavors of ripe pear, apple, and peach marry perfectly with crisp acidity. Whole cluster pressing gives delineated fruit which integrates beautifully with notes of vanilla, cream and toasted hazelnut. Finally, the oak is understated by our choice and is in wonderful proportion with the alcohol, fruit and acidity.