In The Glass: Durant Vineyards Chardonnay Raven 2012

Durant Vineyards is located in Oregon’s famed Dundee Hills and is a part of the incredible Red Ridge Farms – a destination that I recently highlighted in a Best Of Oregon article that can be found here.   They have the Northwest’s only Olioteca where cool climate olives are pressed and made into amazingly flavor-packed, delicious EVOOs that have easily become a staple in my household since discovering them.  In addition to the olive grove and olioteca, there’s an on-site nursery, a lavender farm, world-class vineyards boasting some of the state’s oldest vines, a tasting room, a gift shop and wine country lodging with views that will take your breath away.

I have enjoyed the Durant Vineyards wines time and time again, and I recently sampled the 2012 Durant Vineyards “Raven” Chardonnay.  Produced by well-known Willamette Valley winemaker Isabelle Dutartre of De Ponte Cellars and 1789 Wines, using 20 plus year old Dijon 76 & 96 clones and aged primarily in stainless steel with just two neutral oak barrels, this beauty of an Oregon Chardonnay has notable depth, elegant texture and is clean and focused.  Crisp fruits, minerals and vibrant acidity are the core of a good Oregon Chardonnay and all are captured perfectly in this truly lovely and palate pleasing wine.