Is your palate ready for the most amazingly flavourful Oregon Chardonnay ever? Let me personally introduce you to Evening Land’s Vineyard’s Summum Chardonnay. At almost £100 a bottle, this Oregon Chardonnay is definitely something to treasure. Being able to get my hands on one in London is another small victory! My love affair with this bottled beauty began in the summer of 2016 while working for Evening Land Vineyards in Oregon.
What’s all the fuss about?
You may be wondering what makes Evening Land Vineyard’s Summum Chardonnay so special.
It comes down to one word…Terroir.
To be honest, I don’t think it gets much better than the Seven Springs Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The afternoon Van Duzer Corridor breezes that rush through the vineyard help regulate and cool the grapes during the warmest part of the day, thus helping to regulate sugar and acidity levels. This particular vineyard’s soil is rich with volcanic elements from an ancient lava flow which enhance the wine’s minerality. Additionally, Seven Springs Vineyard is farmed biodynamically, and in my opinion, enables the vines to thrive and create grapes of the highest quality and flavour profiles. The grapes sourced for the ‘summum’ chardonnay come from 14 rows that have been selected for their optimum location and soil type.
Why is it a Summum Chardonnay?
‘Summum’ definitely describes the flavour profile and quality of this Oregon Chardonnay. Indigenous fermentation, ageing for 10 months in very desirable Stockinger puncheons, racked in stainless steel tanks for an additional 6 months and going through a light fining are all important winemaking decisions that have led to the creation of such a beautiful wine. Right from the start, the aromas of freshly baked sweet brioche buns, lemon peel, pineapple and green apple greet the nose. On the palate, light buttery notes accompany lemon and pineapple flavours followed by mineral elements and a lengthy finish. The overall mouthfeel of this wine is smooth with a perfect balance between the level of alcohol (12.9%) and acidity. I highly recommend this wine! This summum wine reigns supreme!