Straight Shooter Willamette Valley Chardonnay, 2018

I have become enamoured of Willamette Valley Chardonnay, but a good, affordable wine from that Oregon appellation is hard to find. I picked this up for $12.99 at Costco and am quite happy with it.

Medium deep yellow. The  Willamette Valley freshness is apparent from the first sniff. Lemon creme, green apple and fresh pear. Lots of ripe flavor interest: creme brulee, green apples, pears and honey. A hint of caramel on the finish. Fermented in stainless steel; 50% of the juice was then aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak. If you want an introduction to good Oregon Chardonnay, this is a good place to start.