2021 Chardonnay Creme Brûlée

Double Gold, 2024 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition
92 Points, 2024 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition

We’re proud to be sourcing the grapes from an independent family-run operation, Lonesome Springs Ranch, just down the road from the Red Mountain AVA. And it turns out that this location is a good one for Chardonnay, as it’s right about at the point that the blast furnace heat of Red Mountain finally gets turned off. 

This vineyard follows the Vinewise best management practice, a year-round process meeting strict production, maintenance, and sustainability requirements. The grapes were picked admittedly a little on the late side, the last remnants of a good growing season. It was a case of buying “what was left” and just like the dog at the shelter that gets left behind ironically always turns out to be the best companion, well you get the picture…

During the barreling process we did secondary (malolactic) fermentation to encourage a fuller, flavor profile with some added mouth feel. And the barrels we used were very neutral. All designed to cast off both the “overly oaked” AND the “sterile stainless” Chardonnays that many of us have come to dislike. 

This 2021 Chardonnay has a wonderful lighter golden color, deeper than most but not as deep as the overwrought ones. The nose has a fleshy, rich cantaloupe or melon effect. And although barreled in neutral oak, it has virtually no oak on the palette. Like none; zilch, nada. 

But the oak did give it lots of personality, especially its creamy, dense mouthfeel. But not an overtly malolactic intensity, either. Its flavor features subtle Meyer lemon, papaya, and mango. And all these flavors are super-integrated. 

We think this one works. It is a sophisticated chardonnay but like many of our whites, without pretense. You should buy a bottle, make a decent piece of fish, and report back to us.  

Yakima Valley AVA
Lonesome Springs Ranch Vineyard