2020 Anahata Vineyard Chardonnay - Aubaine Wine

An intriguingly lithe yet layered procession of Meyer lemon, barely-ripe mango, white nectarine, and orange zest highlights a charmingly nervy yet multidimensional display bursting with perfumed floral tones of honeysuckle and jasmine. A delicate dusting of vanilla, cardamom, and nutmeg gently contributes subtle barrel spices that are playfully complimented by interesting lees and MLF-derived notes of Greek yogurt, marshmallow dust, and sourdough. Mild impressions of mint leaf and sawdust impart just a pinch of lightly herbal character while pleasant earthy hints of marine soils and stoney minerality provide pretty reflections of terroir. Brilliantly pure, tart, and tense on the palate while remaining immaculately classy, elegant, and polished; exhibiting a crisp yet beautifully concentrated presentation that is energetic, elevated, and seductive. Medium bodied and coursing with bright acidity. This 2020 Anahata Vineyard Chardonnay by Aubaine Wine is a complex and classically-styled white from Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills. 

The 2020 vintage in Oregon was exceptionally challenging due to a hellish combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating wildfires, yet plenty of exceptional wine was still made in that year by producers who were lucky enough to get their fruit picked before it could be damaged by smoke or fire. This bottling, crafted by Aubaine Wine using Chardonnay sourced from the Anahata Vineyard in the Willamette Valley's Eola-Amity Hills, is an incredible example of a tremendous success made in the face of unparallelled adversity. This wine beams with a deep yet radiantly energetic core of citrus, stone, and tropical fruits enhanced by lifted floral tones, understated oak spice, complex bready notes, and textured minerality. It is gorgeous today yet possesses adequate structure to improve with 3-5 years or more of bottle age, and is a wonderful testament to what can be accomplished even in a "bad" vintage. Exceptional.