Martin Woods Chardonnay Koosah Vineyard 2022 750ml

Rated 97 – The 2022 Martin Woods ‘Koosah’ Chardonnay from theEola-Amity Hills dazzles with a glimmering light lemon core and a watery rim. Aromatically, it reveals spiced apples, damp earth, a hint of saline, green melon, and subtle notes of white tea. This Chardonnay carries a beautiful structure with a touch of tannins that kiss the gums, which suggests it will only improve with time. The mid-palate offers perfect acidity and balanced sweetness, leading to a long, fruit-forward and saline-infused finish. An outstanding bottle that’s poised for an even brighter future. Highly recommended and editor’s choice. – International Wine Cellar

• Country: United States
• Region: Oregon
• Appellation: Willamette Valley
• Sub Appellation: Eola – Amity Hills
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.