Full Review

King Estate

King Estate
2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5% RS: .15%
Biodynamically Grown Grapes
89 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$25

King Estate
2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5% RS: .15%
Yellow straw color. Aromas and flavors of fresh churned butter, wet grass and hay, lemon cream and baked green apple, and marzipan with a round, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, refreshing, medium-length finish manifesting overtones of baked pear, lemon curd, creme fraiche and baking spice, and toasted coconut with a suggestion of oak flavor. Simple orchard fruit and citrus with ample rich creamy notes; an elegant cool-climate Chard to pair with cheeses, poultry, or fish.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: fresh churned butter, wet grass and hay, lemon cream and baked green apple, and marzipan
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with overtones of baked pear, lemon curd, creme fraiche and baking spice, and toasted coconut
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Simple orchard fruit and citrus with ample rich creamy notes; an elegant cool-climate Chard to pair with cheeses, poultry, or fish.

The Producer

King Estate Winery

The Producer
80854 Territorial Hwy
Eugene, OR 97405
USA
1 541-942-9874

Their Portfolio

92 Inscription 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
88 Inscription 2022 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
90 Inscription 2023 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $22.00.
92 King Estate 2021 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $22.00.
94 King Estate 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
92 King Estate 2018 Estate Grown Méthod Champenoise Brut Cuvée, Willamette Valley 12.5% (USA) $40.00.
88 King Estate 2022 Rosé, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
92 King Estate 2018 Quintessence Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 14.5% (USA) $60.00.
89 King Estate 2018 Weinbau Vineyard, Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope 14.5% (USA) $54.00.
93 King Estate 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Oregon 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
92 King Estate 2022 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
86 King Estate 2022 Artisan Series, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
88 King Estate 2021 Estate Grown Domaine, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13% (USA) $28.00.
90 King Estate 2018 Bacchus Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 14% (USA) $56.00.
88 King Estate 2017 Bacchus Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $56.00.
94 King Estate 2016 Bradshaw Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 14.1% (USA) $60.00.
92 King Estate 2016 Temperance Hill Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $70.00.
91 King Estate 2018 Weinbau Vineyard, Merlot, Wahluke Slope 15% (USA) $52.00.
88 King Estate 2018 Sonrisa Vineyard, Tempranillo, Columbia Valley 14% (USA) $50.00.
90 King Estate 2019 Quail Run Vineyards and Gold Vineyard White Blend, Rhone White Varietal Blend, Rogue Valley 14% (USA) $28.00.
88 King Estate 2018 Quail Run Vineyards White Blend, Rhone White Varietal Blend, Rogue Valley 14.5% (USA) $28.00.
88 King Estate 2019 Kennel Vineyard, Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 13% (USA) $50.00.
92 King Estate 2019 Four Nobles Cuvee Blanc, Willamette Valley 13% (USA) $30.00.
87 King Estate 2022 Artisan Series, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $29.00.
91 King Estate 2022 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $30.00.
89 King Estate 2021 Domaine, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.0% (USA) $70.00.
92 King Estate 2022 Domaine, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $30.00.
88 King Estate 2019 Brut Cuvée, Willamette Valley 12.5% (USA) $40.00.
92 King Estate 2023 Rosé, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
93 King Estate 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Oregon 14.1% (USA) $20.00.
92 King Estate 2021 Kennel Vineyard, Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 14.1% (USA) $58.00.
89 King Estate 2022 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $25.00.
90 King Estate 2019 Brut Cuvée, Willamette Valley 12.5% (USA) $40.00.
88 Next 2018 Red Blend, Columbia Valley 13.5% (USA) $13.00.
92 North By Northwest 2019 Red Blend, Columbia Valley 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
92 The Soldier 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $23.00.
88 The Soldier 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $23.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.

Top Rated for
Chardonnay

Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
95 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
13.5% $13.00.
Australia
Mira Winery 2019 Napa Valley, Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
94 POINTS
Mira Winery 2019 Napa Valley, Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
13.5% $50.00.
USA
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
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Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
12.2% $18.00.
USA
Jarvis 2021 Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
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Jarvis 2021 Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
14.8% $195.00.
USA
Jarvis 2021 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
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Jarvis 2021 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
14.9% $215.00.
USA
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
94 POINTS
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
13.5% $18.00.
France
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
94 POINTS
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
14.1% $15.00.
USA
Jarvis 2020 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
94 POINTS
Jarvis 2020 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
14.8% $195.00.
USA
St. Andrews 2023 Chardonnay, Clare Valley
93 POINTS
St. Andrews 2023 Chardonnay, Clare Valley
13% $32.00.
Australia
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L
93 POINTS
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L'Aude
12.5% $19.00.
France
Davis Family Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
93 POINTS
Davis Family Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
13.9% $40.00.
USA
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
93 POINTS
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
13% $16.00.
Australia
Wine Spots 2021 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
93 POINTS
Wine Spots 2021 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
14.5% $25.00.
USA

Best Buys for
Chardonnay

Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
95 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
13.5% $13.00.
Australia
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
94 POINTS
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
12.2% $18.00.
USA
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
94 POINTS
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
13.5% $18.00.
France
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
94 POINTS
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
14.1% $15.00.
USA
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L
93 POINTS
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L'Aude
12.5% $19.00.
France
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
93 POINTS
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
13% $16.00.
Australia
Wakefield 2022 Estate, Chardonnay, South Australia
93 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Estate, Chardonnay, South Australia
13.5% $18.00.
Australia
Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Chardonnay, Australia
93 POINTS
Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Chardonnay, Australia
12.5% $9.00.
Australia
Carmenet 2021 Chardonnay, California
93 POINTS
Carmenet 2021 Chardonnay, California
12.5% $13.00.
USA
Wakefield 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Padthaway
93 POINTS
Wakefield 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Padthaway
13.5% $18.00.
Australia
Naledi 2023 Chardonnay, Coastal Region
92 POINTS
Naledi 2023 Chardonnay, Coastal Region
13.7% $18.00.
South Africa
Mt. Monster 2022 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Limestone Coast
92 POINTS
Mt. Monster 2022 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Limestone Coast
13.5% $13.00.
Australia