Valdemar Estates Chardonnay 2022

Drink it now or cellar for up to 8 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 2019 in Washington State's Walla Walla Valley wine region, Valdemar Estates is the first foreign-owned winery in the United States. The company was founded by Jesús and Ana Martínez Bujanda, the fifth-generation winemaking family behind the renowned Spanish winery Bodegas Valdemar. With their long winemaking tradition and renowned pioneering spirit, the Martinez Bujanda family produces exquisite wines that express the best of Washington State. The Chardonnay grapes are sourced from various subregions of the Columbia Valley. After manual harvesting and careful bunch selection, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a high temperature to enhance the grape's freshness and aromatic character. The finished wine then ages for 9 months in French oak barrels (20% new) before bottling. In the glass, the Valdemar Estate Chardonnay reveals an elegant and lively character. Its aromatic profile alternates fruity notes of ripe apple, pear, and pineapple, followed by subtle hints of vanilla and spice. On the palate, it is round and smooth, fresh and balanced, with a medium body and lively acidity. Gentle spicy notes return on the finish. It is quite versatile when paired with food: it goes well with many vegetarian dishes, fish, and roast poultry.