Name: Zena Crown Vineyard Chardonnay Desiderium 2021 750ml
Brand: Zena Crown Vineyard
SKU: 1021224
Price: 100.4 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94 (3 reviews)

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Winery

Zena Crown Vineyard

Shop all from Zena Crown Vineyard

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.

Country

United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region

Oregon

The beautiful state of Oregon has, over the past few decades, become increasingly well known and respected for its wine industry, with several small but significant wineries within the state receiving world wide attention for the quality of their produce. Whilst the first vineyards within Oregon were planted in the 1840s, the state's wine industry didn't really take off until the 1960s, when several wine producers from California discovered that the cooler regions of the state were ideal for cultivating various fine grape varietals. Today, Oregon has over four hundred and fifty wineries in operation, the vast majority of which are used for the production of wines made from Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir varietal grapes, both of which thrive in the valleys and mountainsides which characterise the landscape of the state.

Appellation

Willamette Valley

The beautiful wine region of Willamette Valley is located in Oregon, one of the main wine producing states of the USA. As in much of Oregon, Willamette Valley benefits enormously from the long, hot summers the state enjoys, and the mineral rich soils which typify the wine regions found there. Willamette Valley has built up a powerful reputation over the past few decades as one of the New World's leading producers of high quality, flavorful and characterful Pinot Noir wines, as the grapes of the Pinot Noir vine thrive particularly well in the region's climatic conditions. Willamette Valley is a fascinating wine region, and is a fine representative for the state of Oregon. Innovative techniques and wine making methods are fairly commonplace there, and the overall produce of the region seems to get better each year.

DC 96pts

Decanter

This is a stunning Chardonnay from the Zena Crown Vineyard, high in the Eola-Amity Hills. It comes from three blocks (2, 8, and 12) in the middle of the vineyard. The wine flaunts fabulous lemon custard aromas and buttercup florals, complemented by salty sea air and beeswax. The palate delicately balances brushing lemon oil with smoky sea shells and filigreed minerality, and a sprinkle of dried chamomile carries the finish.

JD 95pts

Jeb Dunnuck

The first vintage of Chardonnay from Zena Crown, the 2021 Chardonnay Desiderium is more rounded and textural than the 2022. It pours a bright yellow/golden hue and reveals aromas of honeyed lemon, ginger, fresh flowers, caramel apple, and marzipan. Medium to full-bodied, it has a waxy texture and a golden hue, suggesting this wine will age beautifully. This marked Zena Crown's first white wine after a history of exclusively producing Pinot Noir. Drink 2025-2045.

WS 91pts

Wine Spectator

Refined and steely, with medium-bodied flavors of pear, honeysuckle and apricot that end on a spicy accent. Drink now. 172 cases made.

Winery Notes

The inaugural vintage of Zena Crown Vineyard Chardonnay tastes just like the place - there is simply no better way to describe it. Doug fir pollen mixed with volcanic soil on the first warm day of spring. The wine is morning dew on spring buttercups, big white puffy clouds with a bright blue sky and a twist of cardamom. Broad and enveloping yet lithe like a fine high thread count bedsheet. Clear quartz crystalline shaped. Finishes with a hint of sumac bitters, effortless viscosity throughout, and snaps with lingering acidity.