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1996 Ian's Reserve Chardonnay

(updated 8/18/00)

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The Wine

This is our very first Reserve Chardonnay. Auspiciously beginning with 100% Dijon fruit in an excellent year, our 1996 has a pure, dense core of stonefruit with tropical accents. It is at once intense, yet perfectly balanced, carrying good acid with rich fruit and round, understated French oak. There is exceptional texture, with an emollient, long finish. Barrel fermented in tight-grained French oak with approximately 60% new barrels, there is ample allspice, vanilla and clove spices but, teamed with a firm acidity, it walks the perfect line between lushness and austerity.

Our Ian's Reserve commemorates and celebrates the life of Ian Peterson-Nedry, our son who died at 19 on the day much of this fruit was harvested. (Each year we select one of Ian's poems to appear on the back label.)

Stats

Harvested 10/1,2 (Stoller Vineyards) &16 (Knudsen Vineyards) /96 @22.8 &21.9 brix, with 8.1/3.34 and 9.6/3.05 Total Acid/pH; fermented with a blend of EC1118 and CY3079 yeasts in 60% new oak and aged for 12-13 months without racking (i.e., on lees); cold stabilized and filtered; Bottled 11/25/97 @ 0.28% residual sugar, 13.9% alcohol, 6.1 g/l acid, and 3.58pH. 360 cases made.

Quotes

Eric Liebe, Customer, Portland, Oregon. I dug into my stash of this nectar last night, and opened a bottle to share with friends. What was true the year I bought a case is even more true now, this is an outstanding bottle of wine. Every time I open a bottle it never fails to impress, and add to a wonderful meal or good conversation. It's still rich, creamy, and viscous. Absolutely yummy. My guests just couldn't believe it was an Oregon Chardonnay (but I convinced them). Keep up the great work.

SUNSET (Los Angeles, national), February 1999 (Karen MacNeil-Fife), The Wine Guide: Great Western AVAs—A Delicious Sampler (13 wines, 1 from Oregon)—Willamette Valley (Oregon). Chehalem "Ian's Reserve" Chardonnay 1996, $27. The best Chardonnays that have ever come out of Oregon are coming out now. Chehalem's is crème brulee.

Wine Enthusiast, November 1998, An Eye On Oregon: Tasting Chardonnay from recently planted Dijon clones this summer was encouraging. The 1996 Chardonnays are ripe and offer enough tropical fruit flavors and spice to appeal to most fans of the grape. Excellent examples include Chehalem's "Ian's Reserve" and Bethel Heights Reserve.

Boston Sunday Herald (Mass.), October 11, 1998 (Sonia Turek): The time is ripe to take a chance on Oregon chards.... Rich, deep fruit flavors, vanilla and nutmeg/clove spiciness. Nice oak/acid/fruit balance.

Northwest Palate (Portland, OR), September/October, 1998 — Highly Recommended. Light straw color. Aroma of caramel, honey, peach, and toast with a sharp pepper note. Bright and juicy on the palate, with caramel apple and a clean butterscotch aftertaste.

Wine Spectator, June 30, 1998 — 88. Ripe, emphasizing fruit character over everything else, with pretty pear, peach and apple flavors swirling generously through the finish. Drink now.

Chehalem 1996 "Ian's Reserve" Chardonnay: A smoky, textured wine made entirely from increasingly popular Dijon clones. It aspires to good white Burgundy... Rating 91

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