Bethel Heights - Chardonnay Estate Grown Eola-Amity Hills 2021 (750ml)

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Producer	Bethel Heights
Country	United States
Region	Oregon
Subregion	Eola-Amity Hills
Varietal	Chardonnay
Vintage	2021
Sku	38895
Size	750ml

 

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94

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93

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92

Bethel Heights Vineyard is a true family affair. Founded in 1977 by four friends with a passion for wine, it's now helmed by a second generation and even has a third generation coming of age among the vines. Located in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills, Bethel Heights is a pioneer in Willamette Valley Chardonnay, and their meticulous approach to viticulture shows in every bottle.

Bethel Heights' 2021 Estate Chardonnay is a testament to the exceptional growing season in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Benefiting from both sunshine and cooler fall temperatures, the grapes developed a beautiful balance of bright citrus and orchard fruits like pear and apple. Winemaker Ben Casteel employed whole-cluster pressing and fermentation in oak barrels to add richness and texture, resulting in a vibrant and lively Chardonnay.

The 2021 Chardonnay Estate features creamy lime panna cotta, green pear and smoky flint tones on the nose at this youthful stage. Light-bodied and silky, the palate is tight and focused yet concentrated, and its long, ethereal finish suggests there’s more to come. Give it another 3-5 years to unwind in the bottle.

Notes of quince and peaches with honeysuckle and hints of pie crust. Medium-bodied, compact and polished on the palate, with a textural, lightly phenolic mouthfeel and savory aftertaste. Drink or hold.

The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is sweetly floral with a delicate blend of crushed apples, chamomile and hints of vanilla bean. This is round and soothing on the palate with ripe orchard fruits and hints of citrus enriched by notes of raw almond. It finishes with a mineral tension and a lime tinge, leaving the senses completely reset for another sip.

"The 2021s at Bethel Heights are stunning. This was the first address I stopped at on my recent trip to Oregon, and my tasting with Ben Casteel set the benchmark high for all of the following visits. Casteel explained his thoughts on the success of the vintage, explaining how “it may have been 118 degrees for eight days straight, but it was one of the cleanest growing seasons we had because all of the fungus died. We harvested grapes for over a month, picking well into October.” The constant winds blowing through the Van Duzer Corridor also aid this part of the Willamette Valley. In the end, Bethel Heights achieved perfect physiological ripeness, which shows in the wines. In most cases, the 2021s will require cellaring to show their best." - Eric Guido 01/24