Willamette Valley; Oregon
Made by the same Winemaker as Romanee Conti. This is truly a piece of American Pinot Noir history. And as great as Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy ever gets. I tasted these wines almost a year ago to the date, and I never lost sight of them. This Chardonnay is what every Oregon enthusiast is seeking out because it is a new operation from the De Villaine Family, famous for Domaine Romanee Conti, some of the most expensive Chardonnay (and wine as a whole) in the world. The top families in Burgundy have already made the move to Oregon, including the Drouhins and Nicholas Meo of Meo Camuzet. All eyes have been on the De Villaines, with consumers holding their breath for when they are going to make their move. I tasted their Chardonnay almost a year ago to the date, begged for an allocation but it was already spoken for. Anyone who knows us knows we hate missed opportunity and become obsessed with making sure we do not miss it again.
We did something right, because after hard work and persistence we have been able to secure an allocation of the Composition Chardonnay 2022. Bertrand De Villaine sought out a premium vineyard site in the Winter’s Hill AVA in Dundee, Oregon, a sweet spot for Pinot Noir, sitting adjacent to Domaine Serene and White Rose, two of the most beautiful vineyard sites in all of Oregon. This wine is impossible to get, hardcore domestic Chardonnay, very similar to Puligny Montrcahet stylistically. Power, depth, with balance, finesse, and a decadent mouthfeel.