12 Feb Please The Palate Wine of the Week: WillaKenzie Estate 2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon

When someone mentions Oregon wines, what grape comes to mind? Pinot Noir? After all, Pinot Noir is the most planted grape in Oregon, making up 60% of total plantings. On the other hand, Chardonnay makes up only 7% of plantings in Oregon. But that percentage is growing because Oregon Chardonnay is so delicious, as I was reminded when I sipped the WillaKenzie Estate 2022 Willamette Valley Chardonnay, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About WillaKenzie Estate

The first pioneers of Oregon wine came in the 1960s. In the 1980s and 1990s, French families started purchasing land in Willamette Valley. Frenchman Bernard Lacroute purchased land in 1991 and established WillaKenzie Estate, named after the famous uplifted marine soils, also known as Willakenzie soils. In 2016, Lacroute sold WillaKenzie to Jackson Family Wines. Erik Kramer, who had worked at Adelsheim Vineyards and Domaine Serene, joined WillaKenzie as head winemaker. Willakenzie Estate is a 400-acre property. Originally a cattle ranch, it is still 75% pasture and home to 30-40 long-horn cows. 100 acres are planted to grapes. The property is very dynamic due to its diversity of soil, aspect, elevation, slope, and vine selections. As a terroir-driven winemaker, Erik can bottle multiple single-vineyard expressions of Pinot Noir. He bottles six terroir-specific Pinot Noirs sourced from different blocks on the estate. Each wine speaks to the dynamics of the place. While Erik is an expert in Pinot Noir, he can also speak to the continued rise of Oregon Chardonnay. Since joining WillaKenzie Estate in 2017, he has increased Chardonnay plantings from 2 acres to 14 acres. Erik currently makes three bottlings of Chardonnay and will begin making two terroir-specific Chardonnays in 2025.

Tasting Notes of the WillaKenzie Estate 2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon

The WillaKenzie Estate 2022 Chardonnay is sourced from three vineyards, all owned by WillaKenzie. 26% comes from the WillaKenzie Estate, 19% from the Jory Hills Vineyard, and 55% from the Zena Crown Vineyard. The wine is aged for 12 months in 25% new French oak, a combination of Puncheons (75%) and Foudre (25%) (both large-sized barrels). According to Erik, the fruit from the WillaKenzie Estate gives the wine depth and complexity, the fruit from Jory Hills Vineyard adds to its lush texture, and the fruit from Zena Crown Vineyard adds tension and minerality. The Chardonnay is a texture-driven wine with energy and intensity. The wine has aromas of citrus and lemongrass, with floral notes and a touch of sourdough bread. But what stands out about this wine is its texture and acidity. The wine is vibrant and lively with intense acidity and a mineral finish. The wine is balanced with a long, elegant finish.

Food Pairing

Chardonnay is a great wine to pair with food, especially this one, as it has the texture to withstand many dishes and the acidity to contrast fat. I enjoyed this wine with a cheese and charcuterie plate at lunch with winemaker Erik Kramer. I also enjoyed it with a chopped salad with chicken. You can also try it with grilled salmon or shrimp pasta.

Where to Purchase

The WillaKenzie Estate 2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon is a readily accessible wine that retails for $40. It can be found on wine retail shelves ranging from Total Wine & More to Wine.com. Or you can purchase it directly at WillaKenzie.com.