Morgen Long - DURANT VINEYARD Willamette Valley Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2021 750ml (12.83% ABV)

This rare bottle just received 95+ point score from Jeb Dunnuck

More info on this vineyard from Seth:

Just up the hill from the Eyrie Vineyards original vines. farmed by Paul Durant. 

handpicked aug 30, dry farmed, dijon 76 & 95, Jory silty clay loam soil over volcanic basalt. Planted in 1999/2000 on rootstock, east exposure, 425m elevation, 

another stunning Meursault-influenced release from Seth, salty ocean spray nose, popcorn kernels, green apple skin, pear, almonds, crushed rock, lillies, medium to fuller bodied and textural, focused, long finish of acidity and salinity. delicious now if you can decant it and let it warm up a bit, but Seth is making these releases for the long haul - could be cellared for 10-15 years.

region: Dundee Hills, Wilamette Valley, Oregon, USA

varietal: Chardonnay

style: mineral white

farming/cellar: sustainable, The heart of the must was browned in a cold stainless-steel tank for 20 hours before a 45ppm sulfur addition. The hard press was not sulfured. Ambient yeast fermentations started with pied de cuve in warming stainless-steel tank before being transferred with solids to a mix of new, third fill and old 114L, 228L, 265L, and 350L Damy barrels and puncheon. Primary fermentation completed in 4 weeks, and lees were not stirred. Ambient malolactic finished in December 2021 and February 2022. After one year in oak, the best blend of Durant was made in stainless steel from 27% new, 47% third fill, and 26% old barrels with fine lees. After six months in steel, the 2021 Durant Vineyard Chardonnay will be bottled 2/28/23 under DIAM 10 cork. No fining or filtration

pairing: