SHOP / 2023 Red Willow Chardonnay
Varietal
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Yakima Valley AVA
Aging
Drink Now or Hold
Vineyard
Red Willow
2023 Red Willow Chardonnay
Yakima Valley AVA
The 2023 Red Willow Chardonnay has an open feel from the first pour. An abundance of aromas burst from the glass, including Kiwi, Bartlett pear, cucumber, and white flowers. On the palate, the texture is creamy, with flavors of lemon, vanilla custard, and mango that are complemented by a savory salinity reminiscent of fresh sea beans and thyme. A pleasant touch of spice from partial (15%) new French oak fermentation rounds out each sip. Enjoy paired with your favorite summer catch, or cellar to experience the added complexity this wine will develop with additional age.
93 Points - Previous Score
— Owen Bargreen
93 Points - Previous Score
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
James Suckling
2022 Vintage
92 Points
James Suckling
2022 Vintage
Behind the Wine
2023 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
Fermented in 15% new oak, 40% 2nd fill, 36% neutral barrel, 9% stainless steel. 100% malolactic fermentation completed. Wine in stainless steel transferred to concrete and neutral oak for overvintaging.