2018 Hope Well Wine Chardonnay
Eola-Amity Hills,
Willamette Valley,
Oregon
12% alcohol
Cork closure
125 cases produced
Organically farmed, native yeast
Owner/winemaker Mimi Casteel has spent years feeding and amending her soil, as well as increasing the diversity of her land– that work particularly paid off during the 2018 growing season when it was especially hot and dry. Her vineyard soil was able to retain more water, greatly helping the grapevines during a drought year. She picked the Chardonnay for this wine in mid-September and pressed the grapes cold, then all the juice was tanked for just one day. After that, all fermentation and aging occurred in French oak barrels, with 20% being new and the rest neutral. Barreled with the lees contributed to the weight, body, and texture of the finished wine.
Bouquet:
Tart citrus aromas of lemons and lemongrass tickled my nose as I sniffed and swirled this Chardonnay.
Palate:
I was so impressed with how this wine was both creamy and tart! Textured layered tart flavors of lemons, granny smith apples, and lemongrass enveloped my mouth. It had really nice body and weight without being oaky! It reminded me of the apple pies my grandma used to make– granny smith apples but also lemon juice and sour cream to raise the acidity yet add creaminess and a rounded mouthfeel.
Food pairing suggestions:
Crispy baked cod // spring vegetable shepherd’s pie // squid ink tortellini
Scoop up this wine deal by ordering here:
SRP $75
Be sure to tell us how you like it in the comments!
Sharing is caring so choose your platform!
About the Author: Michele Francisco
