93 Points -
The first vintage of this wine, the 2021 Chardonnay Warrior Princess Block pours a youthful golden hue and offers woodsy aromas of fresh pine, smoky earth, lime zest, and ripe apple. Medium to full-bodied, with fresh, ripe fruit of honeyed lemon and fresh pineapple and a soft, stony texture, it’s an attractive wine to drink over the next 6-8 years. Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com, July 2023
Tasting Notes
The wine has hints of lemongrass, pink grapefruit, quince, and wet stones. The wines flavors follow with citrus, tamarind, exotic fruits and a lively, textural finish.
Vineyard & Vintage Character
The 2021 Warrior Princess Chardonnay is sourced from the Eola-Amity Hills in the Willamette Valley, coming from the renowned Zena Crown Vineyard. The site is situated near the Oregon ghost town of Zena, in the hills between Eola and Amity, Oregon. Our block, planted in 2014 is Dijon Clone 95.
The soils are predominantly basalt-based Nekia series, which is volcanic in origin, mixed with marine sedimentary rocks and alluvial material. This soil tends to produce Chardonnay wines characterized by firm structure and minerality. The Van Duzer corridor enables the grapes to retain great acidity during ripening, as this corridor allows cool afternoon breezes to reach the Eola-Amity Hills from the Pacific Ocean.
Wine Details
Oak: 100% French oak; 0 % new
Time in oak: 14 months
Yeast: Native
Clones: Dijon 95
TA: 5.6 g / L
pH: 3.24
Alcohol: 13.5%
Cases produced: 102 cases
Unfined and Unfiltered