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O’Reilly’s Chardonnay

O’Reilly’s Chardonnay Wine Details
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Description: Great fruit and acidity – an excellent example of what caliber of Chardonnay can come out of Oregon – all the grapes were the early ripening Dijon clones. The fruit for the O’Reilly’s Chardonnay is from Jerry Owen’s Saint Columban Vineyard and Casa Blanca Vineyard near Amity. More exuberant than prior vintages due to the lovely, hot summer in 2004 - Rich texture and fresh melon and pineapple-like fruitiness with a tasty vanilla finish. 2/3 of the wine was fermented in stainless steel - a refreshing alternative to overblown Chardonnays.

Varietal Definition
Chardonnay:
Chardonnay is by far the most widely planted grape crop in California and dominates California’s cooler, coastal, quality wine regions. The natural varietal ‘taste and smell’ of Chardonnay is surprisingly unfamiliar to many wine drinkers, as its true character is often guised with dominating winemaking signatures. Chardonnay’s rather subdued primary fruit characteristics lean toward the crisp fruitiness of apples, pears and lemon, but the variety’s full body is capable of supporting a host of complementary characteristics, such as oak, butter and vanilla. Regardless of what is the appropriate style for Chardonnay, the varietal continues to dominate vineyard plantings in every corner of the world. Close attention to clonal selection has made this broad geographic and climactic range of Chardonnay viable in thoughtful viticultural hands.


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