2019 Koosah Vineyard - Chardonnay

tasting notes
flint, citrus, rainwater, iodine, tree bark, fresh herbs—bright, mouth-filling velvety palate, taught and focused yet also generous—persistent, resonant finish—think 'Puligny'
 
ava Eola-Amity Hills
elevation / aspect 800-985 ft, southeast-facing 22% slope
soils Volcanic Basalt (Jory, Parrett & Witzel series)
planted 2016—Intermixed clones Dijon 76 and 95
farming Dry-Farmed, Organic management
harvest October 2, 2019
Press regime whole cluster, oxidative juice handling (without sulfur)
elevage 21 months in 228L & 400L Oregon & French cooperage (0% new)
bottled July 15, 2021, Unfined, 13.3% Alc.
cases produced 158 (750ml x12)
 
the Terroir
The Eola-Amity Hills is situated to the immediate east of the Van Duzer Corridor, the "air-conditioning" pathway through the Coast Range where marine air enters from the west and cools the Willamette Valley. At the top of the ava sits Koosah Vineyard, one of the highest and riskiest plantings in the WV. This "magnum opus" project of Kevin Chambers—who is somewhat of a living legend of a vine grower here—is without argument one of the most thoughtfully and meticulously-planted vineyards in the WV. Ripening here is patient and Fall rains will almost always threaten the harvest (but many of our vineyard sites are that way too and it seems to lead to the most compelling wines). The early results at Koosah are striking. At the time of this writing, I am now three vintages