Willamette Valley | Dundee Hills
2016 Knudsen Vineyards Chardonnay
This delicious Dundee Hills Chardonnay exhibits a vibrant light straw color in the glass and presents a lovely, subtle aroma of the stone fruits of pear and peach with a hint of green apple and vanilla. This wine is supple while possessing great natural acidity, balanced and enhanced with modest French oak. The mouthfeel is crisp, yet juicy, with some minerality, and delivers a lingering and elegant finish.
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FAMILY SERIES
Estate Grown
LIVE Certified
Salmon Safe
ACCOLADES
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle
90 – Wine Spectator
92 – WineEnthusiast
94 – James Suckling
96 – PinotFile
more…
Appellation: Dundee Hills
Soil: Jory – red volcanic: drains well during winter; holds water during summer heat.
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.30
Oak: French, 25% New; 11 months in barrel
TA: 6.8 g/L
Cases: 320
Block 28 | 50%
Rootstock | 3309
Clone | CH95
Plated | 1995
Elevation | 710-760 ft
Exposure | SE
Spacing | 5×3.3 ft
Block 28 | 25%
Rootstock | 3309
Clone | CH76
Plated | 1995
Elevation | 725-760 ft
Exposure | SE
Spacing | 5×3.3 ft
Block 32 | 25%
Rootstock | 3309
Clone | CH76
Plated | 1995
Elevation | 655-690 ft
Exposure | SE
Spacing | 5×3.3 ft
90 Points – Wine Spectator
“Vibrant and fresh, with lively apple and spice flavors that take on richness on the finish.” – Tim Fish
92 Points – WineEnthusiast
“Here’s a big, full-throttle, wide-open style of Chardonnay. It’s richly aromatic, deep gold in hue, and loaded with ripe tree fruits. Toasty and flavorful, it’s cloaked in a rich dressing of buttered nuts. It was aged for 11 months in one-quarter new French oak, and is drinking beautifully at this relatively young age.” – Paul Gregutt
94 Points – James Suckling
“Complex and toasty oak on offer here with a core of fresh lemons and peaches in pristine form. The palate has a terrific, powerful core of mouthwatering lemons and white nectarines and a wave of toasty, attractively spicy oak through the finish.”
GOLD – 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
SILVER – 2019 Savor NW Wine Awards
SILVER – 2018 Oregon Wine Awards
SILVER – 2018 California Pacific Rim
96 points, PinotFile (March, 2018)
“Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Complimentary aromas of citrus fruits, honey and caramel oak. Gentle and soothing on the palate, with delightful flavors of lemon, pineapple, apple pan dowdy, crème brûlée and subtle blonde caramel. The wine has a generous acid underbelly and the oak is woven in beautifully. Highly refreshing, with a finish that strongly encourages another sip.”
92 points, Christine Havens (March, 2018)
“Textbook Willamette Valley Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills AVA—I have toured the vineyard more than once, a parcel planted in 1995 with French Dijon clones—the vines sit in deep, brick-hued volcanic soils at elevations between ranging from 710-650 feet. Purity reigns here—a kaleidoscope of crisp Opal apples, pears and lemon curd sink beneath a dusting of talcum powder. The oak is well integrated, lending a light touch of toast to balance out an elegant mineral and spice flecked fruit profile.
The 2016 growing season was one of the earliest on record and the third of three consecutive warm growing seasons, pushing the envelope for defining the new normal in Oregon. Bud break was two to four weeks earlier than usual and a brief heat spell at bloom condensed flowering, resulting in a smaller fruit set and clusters. July and August had fewer heat spikes compared to the 2014 and 2015 vintages, which led to smaller berry size and a higher concentration of flavors, while consistent warmth in August shepherded along an early harvest commencing in late August and concluding in mid- September. The 2016 vintage produced ripe and rich fruit with supple tannins, typically strong natural acidity and great flavor intensity. 2016 was an exceptional vintage in Oregon.