The Chardonnays from Oregon's Willamette Valley have seen such a rise in quality over the past 5 years that serious collectors have taken notice and taken stock in the wines! These wines are very reminiscent of the Chardonnays from Burgundy, with their clean, bright and chiseled personalities. Ken Pahlow has been making wine in Oregon for over 20 years, working at St Innocent, Patricia Green and Evening Land. Most of the vineyards he works with are in the Eola-Amity Hills, a sub-region known for its cool climate and heavy winds that help to bring enlivening freshness to the finished wines. Ken ferments with 100% ambient yeast and full malolactic conversion in large barrels with very little bâtonnage.
X Novo Chardonnay is both exotic and compelling, offering an aromatic journey of golden rose, jasmine, citrus blossom, and caramelized Meyer lemon, seamlessly layered with the sharp edge of steely flint. The palate is a masterclass in balance and intensity, revealing vibrant notes of lemongrass, ripe Mirabelle plum, candied citrus, and the creamy allure of passionfruit curd. A mineral-driven backbone of wet stone adds depth, leading to a saline, irresistibly mouthwatering finish that lingers elegantly.
JEB DUNNUCK 98 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard saw 90% new oak and comes from the original planting, cropped at just 2.1 tons per acre. Full-bodied but not heavy at only 13% alcohol, it has tremendous volume without feeling warm. This is spectacular, packed with purity, salinity, and length, offering peaches, bright golden citrus, fresh ginger, and vibrant acidity. Such a fantastic wine in the range, and along with Temperance, I think it is among the very best"
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 97 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard bursts from the glass with an array of dried flowers and herbs, freshly sliced nectarines and green apples, all elevated by a whiff of mint. It's elegant and deeply textural, nearly weighty in feel yet expertly balanced, with ripe pit fruit and melon tones. A stimulating core of minerals and sharp acidity grounds the experience in reality. The finish is long and intense, leaving nuances of citrus to fade."
X Novo Chardonnay is both exotic and compelling, offering an aromatic journey of golden rose, jasmine, citrus blossom, and caramelized Meyer lemon, seamlessly layered with the sharp edge of steely flint. The palate is a masterclass in balance and intensity, revealing vibrant notes of lemongrass, ripe Mirabelle plum, candied citrus, and the creamy allure of passionfruit curd. A mineral-driven backbone of wet stone adds depth, leading to a saline, irresistibly mouthwatering finish that lingers elegantly.
JEB DUNNUCK 98 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard saw 90% new oak and comes from the original planting, cropped at just 2.1 tons per acre. Full-bodied but not heavy at only 13% alcohol, it has tremendous volume without feeling warm. This is spectacular, packed with purity, salinity, and length, offering peaches, bright golden citrus, fresh ginger, and vibrant acidity. Such a fantastic wine in the range, and along with Temperance, I think it is among the very best"
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 97 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard bursts from the glass with an array of dried flowers and herbs, freshly sliced nectarines and green apples, all elevated by a whiff of mint. It's elegant and deeply textural, nearly weighty in feel yet expertly balanced, with ripe pit fruit and melon tones. A stimulating core of minerals and sharp acidity grounds the experience in reality. The finish is long and intense, leaving nuances of citrus to fade."
