2015 Tenor Chardonnay

The Tenor Chardonnay is a hybrid of classical and new world thinking, designed to take advantage of the strengths of Washington’s climate and geography. Tenor Chardonnay is classically recognizable as Chardonnay, especially in the aromatic profile, but also recognizable as a Tenor wine, in that it’s not afraid to go beyond common conventions for the grape. Grapes grown in this state are capable of remarkable freshness, as well as depth of flavor, and our goal is to create a pure and balanced expression of this grape as a stand-alone varietal. Like all Tenor wines, the chardonnay is big and opulent, intense and fruit forward, but it also shows great restraint. We’ve toned down the oak influence and upped the acidity to deliver a wine that is fresher, more angular and precise, and less soft or heavy on the palate.

"The 2015 Chardonnay from Tenor comes all from the Columbia Valley and was brought up in new French oak. Sautéed citrus, caramelized apple, and brioche notes flow to a medium-bodied, rich, toasty Chardonnay that has rock-solid mid-palate concentration, excellent purity, and a balanced, classic style. It's incredibly high quality and I suspect capable of lasting for a decade or more."

93 points - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com