The Curtis dozen: top Chardonnays from Oregon’s Willamette Valley
1 Lingua Franca, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 96
POA Berry Bros & Rudd
Lovely, expressive notes of juicy grapefruit and ripe pear, toast and oak spice make an appearance but the cask ageing is very well integrated. The overall impression is of a consummate balance between richness and freshness, with another layer of firm underlying acidity too, and the wine lingers enticingly. As consultant Dominique Lafon notes: ‘Our better wines are not the bigger. Our selection is on refinement.’ Drink 2020-2030 Alcohol 12.5%
