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SHOP / 2022 Red Willow Chardonnay

Varietal

100% Chardonnay

Appellation

Yakima Valley

Aging

Drink now, or hold. The style of this wine has great potential to age gracefully. Since this is our first vintage, we will evaluate it over the coming years.

Vineyard

100% Red Willow Vineyard

2022 Red Willow Chardonnay

The inaugural vintage of Red Willow Chardonnay is both vibrant and complex, showcasing the best qualities of the grape, alongside pleasant notes from full 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, compliments 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.

$50

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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.

April 2024

Additional Scores:

Pairing Suggestion

Homemade Spaghetti with Sunflower Seed Pasta, Spring Onion, English Peas and Pecorino — Chardonnay pairs well with meaty fish such as halibut, cod, or shellfish. Risottos, cream-enhanced soups and pastas also are terrific accompaniments for Chardonnay.

Behind the Wine

2022 Red Willow Chardonnay

Red Willow Vineyard has been a longstanding partner of DeLille Cellars, the Red Willow Chardonnay marks the fourth single-vineyard wine produced for the DeLille portfolio. One of the oldest vineyards in Washington state, it is meticulously managed by the Sauer family, creating consistently ripened wine grapes that produce beautiful wines, vintage after vintage. Before the vines were planted in 2018, Mike Sauer researched the various clones of Chardonnay, determining which five would perform best on the vineyard based on its terroir and climate. Red Willow Vineyard is one of the westernmost vineyards in the Yakima Valley AVA, finding itself close to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The Mountain’s protection makes this area slightly cooler than the rest of the region, allowing Chardonnay to ripen more slowly over the growing season, maintaining acid while developing flavors typical of a warm climate Chardonnay. This process has resulted in a wonderfully balanced wine, which showcases citrusy, tropical notes balanced with bright acidity and buttery notes from full malolactic fermentation.

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Vineyards

Red Willow, one of Washington’s most renowned vineyards, was founded in 1971.

Red Willow

Winemaking

Fermented in 46% neutral barrels, 37% stainless steel and 17% concrete. 100% malolactic fermentation completed. Wine in stainless steel transferred to concrete and neutral oak for overvintaging.