SHOP / 2022 Red Willow Chardonnay
Varietal
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Yakima Valley AVA
Aging
Drink Now or Hold. Since this is our first vintage, we will evaluate it over the coming years.
Vineyard
Red Willow
2022 Red Willow Chardonnay
Yakima Valley AVA
The inaugural vintage of Red Willow Chardonnay is both vibrant and complex, showcasing the grape's best qualities alongside pleasant notes from complete malolactic fermentation. The tasting experience opens with lively citrus aromas of Meyer lemon and tart blood orange, complemented by tropical mango notes and herbaceous salinity. On the palate, the aromas linger, complemented by flavors of Asian pear and wet stone. The mouthfeel is bright yet creamy with vibrant acidity that lingers on the palate. This wine is exquisite now, but because of its elegant balance, it will develop beautifully with some time in the bottle.
93 Points
— Owen Bargreen
93 Points
This is the inaugural edition of this 2022 Washington Chardonnay, coming from older vines in the Red Willow Vineyard. This wine is a blend of Chardonnay clones, showing rich Japanese pear, macadamia nut, and vanilla cream tones. The palate is soft and refined, showing rich citrus and melon fruit flavors alongside good weight and underlying tension. Finishing long, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2024-2031
April 2024
Additional Scores:
93+ Points
Vinous
92 Points
James Suckling
Behind the Wine
2022 Red Willow Chardonnay
Red Willow is the result of four generations of farming dating back to the 1920s growing potatoes alfalfa and hay. In 1971, Mike Sauer enlisted renowned WSU viticulturist Dr. Walter Clore to start planting wine grapes on the slopes where his other crops wouldn’t grow. Red Willow vineyard is at an elevation of 1,300 feet, which places it above the Missoula Floods and escapes the deep soils that it created. Here the soils are poorer ancient soils which as Mike discovered, is perfect for wine grapes.
Vineyards
Red Willow Vineyard is the furthest western vineyard within the Yakima Valley AVA.
Winemaking
46% neutral barrel fermented, 17% Concrete, 37% stainless steel fermented. Full MLF. SS racked into concrete and more BBL for overvintaging.