The Tenor Chardonnay is a hybrid of classical and new world chardonnay, designed to take greatest advantage of the strengths of Washington-grown chardonnay. 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. We’re not making a big, fat, buttery chardonnay; we want one that makes your mouth water a little, with good acidity and enough freshness to stand up to food. When it comes to chardonnay, we are open-minded perfectionists. We are constantly evolving our process, and the wine reflects this slow evolution toward the ultimate balance of verve/vibrancy with the richness this varietal is noted for here in the new world. Barrel fermenting helps us achieve this balance and complexity, and it also enables Tenor Chardonnay to age gracefully, maintaining its approachable freshness and fruit while gaining layers of complexity through 4, 6, or 8 years and possibly longer.