At an American Wine Society tasting last Fall, I was quite impressed by the 2017 Bernau Block Chardonnay. Jim Bernau, founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, talked about his quest for a Chardonnay clone best suited to the Willamette Valley climate and soil--a quest that took him to the Burgundy region of France, where winemakers recommended the Dijon clone. As far as I'm concerned it was a great choice. The Bernau Block Chardonnay I had at the tasting was arguably the best Chardonnay I have ever tasted. While several steps down in price, this Dijon Clones Chardonnay offers many of the same qualities. It was aged 16 months in 20% new French oak.
Medium lemon yellow in color. Captivating smells of lemon, apples, pears and a touch of Eucalypt honey. Medium body. Lemon curd--creamy but with citric acidity. Best when it warms up a bit in the glass. Smooth, nuanced finish. This wine retails for $25 to $30, but I have heard rumors that will soon be available at Costco for $15.99--an incredible value.
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