CHARDONNAY
93 Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2019 Estate Chardonnay (Eola-Amity Hills). For full review see page 117. Editors’ Choice.
abv: 12.3% Price: $40
92 The Eyrie Vineyards 2020 Estate Chardonnay (Dundee Hills). Clarified butter, stone fruit and spice aromas lead to a creamy-feeling palate, full of layering and texture. It still remains deft on its feet, with lemony acidity tying it all together. It’s exquisite. Editors’ Choice. —S.S.
abv: 13.09% Price: $35
92 Nicolas-Jay 2020 Affinités Chardonnay (Willamette Valley). Clarified butter, toast and spice aromas lead to a bright, lively, lemony palate. It’s completely captivating. Decant and pair with shrimp scampi with butter, lemon and fresh parsley. Editors’ Choice. —S.S.
abv: 13% Price: $50
91 Elizabeth Chambers 2019 Fairsing Vineyard Chardonnay (Yamhill-Carlton). The aromas are beguiling, with notes of char, toast, cardamom, clarified butter, lemon and pear. Tart, lemony flavors follow. It’s light but also shows textural richness. Herb notes linger on the finish. Give it time for the oak to integrate and for it to truly blossom. Editors’ Choice. —S.S.
abv: 12.2% Price: $45
91 Flâneur 2019 La Belle Promenade Vineyard Chardonnay (Chehalem Mountains). Fruit for this wine comes from a vineyard planted in 2014. Aged in 36% new French oak, the aromas show some reduction initially. Beyond that are notes of lees and custard. The palate is on the lighter side of medium-bodied, sprightly, with lemony acidity. Decant if opening in the near term. —S.S.
abv: 12.5% Price: $60
91 Rex Hill 2019 Seven Soils Chardonnay (Willamette Valley). For full review see page 123. Editors’ Choice.
abv: 13.5% Price: $35
Aromas of toast, char, clarified butter and pear lead to a tart, lively, lightly creamy-feeling palate. The flavors wash over the palate and crest in a crescendo. It’s downright tasty. Decant. —S.S.
