Minimus Wines
No. 6 Dijon Free Johan Vineyard Chardonnay
Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Just a tad shy of the 2017, I’m still enthusiastic about this vintage. Similar color and a familiar capgun and flint scent that eventually morphs into popcorn (no butter) and settles into yellow pears and lemon.
Spicy and deep with complexity, it’s only one point off from 2017 and that’s because it’s a bit rounder. Still, it has nicely balanced acidity. Generous finish. One of my favorite North American chardonnays ever.
Just a tad shy of the 2017, I’m still enthusiastic about this vintage. Similar color and a familiar capgun and flint scent that eventually morphs into popcorn (no butter) and settles into yellow pears and lemon.
Spicy and deep with complexity, it’s only one point off from 2017 and that’s because it’s a bit rounder. Still, it has nicely balanced acidity. Generous finish. One of my favorite North American chardonnays ever.
Completely smitten with this dense, complex, and entirely palatable Chardonnay.
Yellow straw color that hints at minor oak aging. Beautiful and intense aromas of struck match, toasted marshmallow, baked bread, pineapple, and guava. Absolutely no vanillin coming through. Upon cold opening it was much more tropical focused and then warmed up to become more toasty. Was fun to witness the evolution.
Sharp acid edge and medium bodied. Drinks clean and has a buttered popcorn and golden apple dialect.
Gorgeous!
Completely smitten with this dense, complex, and entirely palatable Chardonnay.
Yellow straw color that hints at minor oak aging. Beautiful and intense aromas of struck match, toasted marshmallow, baked bread, pineapple, and guava. Absolutely no vanillin coming through. Upon cold opening it was much more tropical focused and then warmed up to become more toasty. Was fun to witness the evolution.
Sharp acid edge and medium bodied. Drinks clean and has a buttered popcorn and golden apple dialect.
Gorgeous!
Absolutely groovy chardonnay. Very reminiscent of Meursault.
Absolutely groovy chardonnay. Very reminiscent of Meursault.
Feb 21st, 2015
One of the most compelling bottlings of Oregon Chardonnay I've ever come across.
One of the most compelling bottlings of Oregon Chardonnay I've ever come across.
Jan 16th, 2014
Chad Stock´s chardonnay testing his conviction that Dijon clones aren't best suited to the Willamette Valley AVA terroir. Whatever your view, this is a beautiful wine.
Chad Stock´s chardonnay testing his conviction that Dijon clones aren't best suited to the Willamette Valley AVA terroir. Whatever your view, this is a beautiful wine.
Dec 22nd, 2013
New World Chard with Old World / cool climate character. Pale yellow, crisp, notes of lemon curd, tropical fruit. Smooth, creamy texture with mineral undercurrent that carries through the finish. 2014, still fresh/youthful. 13.1% ABV.
New World Chard with Old World / cool climate character. Pale yellow, crisp, notes of lemon curd, tropical fruit. Smooth, creamy texture with mineral undercurrent that carries through the finish. 2014, still fresh/youthful. 13.1% ABV.
May 30th, 2020
Third time trying this. Tightly coiled and reminiscent of young Meursault on popping the cork, with a certain reductive flintiness to its wonderfully pure Jonagold apple fruit. After being open for a couple days the wine is altogether more expressive, with creme brulee, almond, and bread dough aromas complementing its still vibrant core of orchard fruit and minerality. Strikingly rich and sumptuous for its relatively modest alcohol and lip-smacking acid structure. Given how positively it evolved and unfurled with a few days worth of oxygen, I'd lay this down for at least a couple years. Hats off.
Third time trying this. Tightly coiled and reminiscent of young Meursault on popping the cork, with a certain reductive flintiness to its wonderfully pure Jonagold apple fruit. After being open for a couple days the wine is altogether more expressive, with creme brulee, almond, and bread dough aromas complementing its still vibrant core of orchard fruit and minerality. Strikingly rich and sumptuous for its relatively modest alcohol and lip-smacking acid structure. Given how positively it evolved and unfurled with a few days worth of oxygen, I'd lay this down for at least a couple years. Hats off.
Jan 24th, 2019