Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2023 - Lonesome Rock Wines

2023 The Estate Chardonnay

Willamette Valley Chardonnay from Our High-Elevation Estate

A limited-production, estate-grown Chardonnay drawn from a single south-facing parcel at Lonesome Rock, planted in volcanic soils at high elevation along the forested edge of the Coast Range. Sourced from just 1.28 acres, the site’s cool nights and steady airflow shape an aromatic, energetic wine of expressive fruit, clarity, tension, and depth, defined by a crisp, mineral edge.

With a generally warm, dry finish to the 2023 season, our Chardonnay saw excellent phenolic and flavor development alongside bright natural acidity, contributing to expressive, structured wines with clarity of fruit and refined texture.

A bold nose of spicy pear skin and ripe white peach unfolds gracefully, revealing layers of toasted hazelnuts and delicate vanilla bean. Subtle oak lingers in the background, adding depth, richness, and a touch of creamy elegance. This Willamette Valley Chardonnay hums with vibrant, laser-focused energy, finishing with a striking mineral edge and a crisp, rain-on-rock vivacity.
A limited-production, estate-grown wine showcasing Willamette Valley Chardonnay grown in volcanic soils at high-elevation. Hand-harvested in the cool morning hours of September 17th, 2.7 tons of fruit were carefully selected from our 1.28-acre vineyard and placed into half-ton bins. A gentle foot treading precedes whole-cluster pressing, with no settling, allowing for maximum purity and expression. Fermentation takes place in a diverse array of vessels, including new puncheons, ‘cigare’ barrels, a mix of new, one-year, and neutral 228L French oak barrels, and a single stainless steel tank. Each lot undergoes ambient fermentation and is aged for 10 months, with 75% undergoing malolactic fermentation for added texture and depth. Lightly filtered at bottling, this Chardonnay is a true reflection of its origins, balancing precision, richness, and vibrancy.
Vintage: Third
Cases Produced: 205
Year Planted: 2015
Harvest Date: 9/17/2023
Clone: 76
Cropload: 2.7 tons/acre
Élévage: 10 months
Alcohol: 13.6%
Winemaker: Jackson Holstein
Release Date: 3/10/2025
The 2023 season began slowly, with cool spring temperatures extending into early April before an abrupt burst of heat in early May accelerated vine growth and compressed early development. The interval from budbreak to bloom was notably short—approximately 32 days—and from the outset it was clear yields would be small, but quality looked exceptional. Sustained warmth through August raised concerns about an early or overly ripe vintage; however, cooler September conditions, paired with a timely bit of rainfall, slowed ripening, preserving freshness while allowing flavor and structure to develop. We harvested Chardonnay on a cool morning, September 17th, under ideal conditions.—unusually early for this site. The resulting wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit, natural acidity, and a clear, composed expression of place.