Reviewing Wine Spectator Magazine’s highest rated domestic Chardonnay
Last night I was fortunate to try and review the 2009 Evening Land Vineyards Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard La Source (I know… couldn’t the name be a bit shorter?).
While I’m not typically a huge domestic Chardonnay fan (with some exceptions like Marcassin, Aubert, Kistler, Peter Michael and a few other wines) this Evening Land effort from Oregon really took me for a loop! Wow! More like a minerally French Burgundy than a buttery chardonnay, this wine fired on all cylinders for me.
Only 487 cases of this wonderful stuff were made, so finding it in the marketplace is a bit tough (although there is a small allocation at WineOnTheWay.com).
Dissecting the flavors of the 2009 Evening Land Vineyards Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard La Source
The flavors of this wine were subtle but very apparent at the same time. There was a great sense of acidity with delicious citrus notes coming through on the finish. Vibrant and crisp were two words that came to mind.
Wine Spectator Magazine just rated this wine at 97 points on the 100 point wine rating system, which makes it the highest rated domestic Chardonnay from Oregon in the history of the Magazine (the second two highest are also Chardonnays from the Evening Land Vineyards Summum). Apparently, I am not the only person that is finding this Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard La Source fantastic!
The Evening Land Vineyards: What’s in a name?
The winery at Seven Springs Vineyard La Source states that “The Evening Land” has long been a symbol of the dream quest for the perfect garden. From ancient Greek myth to now, the search for The Evening Land is synonymous with adventure and romance that inevitably leads to the extremes of America’s West Coast. Evening Land Vineyards has brought together a collection of domestic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards in the three great growing regions of the American West.
In closing, Evening Land Vineyards seem to really have their act together and I look forward to tasting their other Chardonnay and wine offerings very soon. The 2009 Evening Land Vineyards Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard La Source is an excellent buy.
