2021Conner Lee Chardonnay
2021Conner Lee Chardonnay
The 2021 Jaine Reserve Conner Lee Chardonnay was crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced from the Conner Lee vineyard in the Columbia Valley, WA. This single-vineyard wine was carefully selected from the finest premium barrel offerings of this vineyard.
During this vintage, a light crop load and meticulous canopy thinning contributed to concentrated flavors. The whole grape clusters were pristine in both appearance and taste. Canopy management and strategic irrigation techniques were employed to accentuate the unique characteristics of the vintage and the vineyard. Although sugars accumulated early, the cool fall temperatures allowed flavors to catch up, resulting in an expressive representation of this remarkable Chardonnay.
Harvest took place during the early mornings of the last week of September. At the winery, the fruit underwent whole-cluster pressing before fermentation in new and used 228L oak barrels.
For aging, French oak barrels were chosen to create layers of complexity—65% new barrels and 35% used barrels. The fermentation process lasted 3-4 weeks, and full malolactic fermentation added weight and a luscious, balanced texture. After aging for 22 months in new and used French barrels, the final blend was cold-stabilized in tanks before bottling, resulting in only 359 cases of this exceptional single-vineyard Chardonnay.
Peach marmalade, wet stones, custard apple, honeycomb, butterscotch, and white flowers. Swirling brings ripe stone fruits, pineapple confiture, roasted marshmallows, nutmeg, and oak spice. The mouthfeel is broad, with remarkable structure and a phenomenal acid presentation. Ripe fruits dominate the mid-palate, but there are lots of citrus and spice components that remain towards the end of the wine. Extremely complex and layered, with a balanced oak profile, this beautiful Chardonnay finishes long, with the perfect amount of sweetness and lingering acidity. Enjoy now or in the next 20 years. Decanting is recommended.
Vineyards
Conner Lee
Conner Lee
Conner Lee Vineyard is a highly-regarded and sustainably farmed vineyard located in the Wahluke Slope AVA of the Columbia Valley in Washington State. This historic vineyard was established in 1980 with the assistance of renowned Viticulturist Dr. Walter Clore. Sandy glacial marine sediments left by the Missoula floods comprise the soils here and it is situated at an elevation of about 1100 feet.
- SOIL TYPE
- Loamy fine sand to very fine sandy loam
- CLONES PLANTED
- Chardonnay: 95, Wente/75, 76 , Sauvignon Blanc: 6, Pinot Noir: 663, 113, 115 Merlot: 181, Cabernet Sauvignon: 2, 8
- ASPECT TO THE SUN
- North/ South
- FARM PRACTICES
- Sustainable
- YEAR PLANTED
- 1980
- ELEVATION
- 1085-1164 ft
- VINE SPACING
- 9' x 6'