Big Table Farm

Willamette Valley Chardonnay

9.117 ratings
9.08 pro ratings
Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Chardonnay
Lamb
Top Notes For
Shay A
9.2

Monthly guys group wine meet-up. No theme tonight aside from “it better be good”.

Lemon meringue, baked citrus, brioche and cheese on the nose. Rich. Apricot preserves. Nice acidity. Pineapple finish.

Monthly guys group wine meet-up. No theme tonight aside from “it better be good”.

Lemon meringue, baked citrus, brioche and cheese on the nose. Rich. Apricot preserves. Nice acidity. Pineapple finish.

Jul 11th, 2018
Yianni Stone

Honeysuckle, thick with lees, cinnamon. Would benefit from more acid.

Honeysuckle, thick with lees, cinnamon. Would benefit from more acid.

1 person found it helpfulAug 2nd, 2016
Matt Duncan

Cinabun, banana's foster.

Cinabun, banana's foster.

Feb 28th, 2016
Bryan Kesting

Citrus and orchard fruits. Prior vintages to me seemed a little more complex and put together after 5 years or so. Good but not as previous years.

Citrus and orchard fruits. Prior vintages to me seemed a little more complex and put together after 5 years or so. Good but not as previous years.

Sep 8th, 2019
Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

A tough review for me to write because it's certainly an outstanding domestic Chardonnay, but I know Big Table Farm's wines so intimately, and unfortunately this is probably my last favorite effort I've had thus far.
It all comes down to this breadiness it has. It's a bit overwhelming. The winemaker prides himself on "balance" and usually he hits the mark but this year I fear he may have gone a little overboard with the lees contact.
In fact, they stir their lees to really get that essence going, but this year's yeast was really strong and I think it got stirred right out of balance.
And trust me, I'm a yeast lover. Give me an extended tirage Champagne any day. Give me a nice yeasty Chard that makes me think of still Champagne too! Brioche? Toast? Biscotti? Yes yes and yes! But raw bread dough and brewers yeast? Not so much.

But like I said... still a solid 88pt. delicious Oregon Chardonnay with nice fruit, nice weight, good acid and good length. I just know the potential here and this one came up a little short.

A tough review for me to write because it's certainly an outstanding domestic Chardonnay, but I know Big Table Farm's wines so intimately, and unfortunately this is probably my last favorite effort I've had thus far.
It all comes down to this breadiness it has. It's a bit overwhelming. The winemaker prides himself on "balance" and usually he hits the mark but this year I fear he may have gone a little overboard with the lees contact.
In fact, they stir their lees to really get that essence going, but this year's yeast was really strong and I think it got stirred right out of balance.
And trust me, I'm a yeast lover. Give me an extended tirage Champagne any day. Give me a nice yeasty Chard that makes me think of still Champagne too! Brioche? Toast? Biscotti? Yes yes and yes! But raw bread dough and brewers yeast? Not so much.

But like I said... still a solid 88pt. delicious Oregon Chardonnay with nice fruit, nice weight, good acid and good length. I just know the potential here and this one came up a little short.

May 1st, 2016
Charles Gibbs

Charles had this 8 years ago

Charles had this 8 years ago

Sep 3rd, 2017
Jeffrey Bragman

President at WINEPSYCH

9.1

Jeffrey had this 9 years ago

Jeffrey had this 9 years ago

Aug 1st, 2016
John Berghoff

John had this 9 years ago

John had this 9 years ago

Mar 15th, 2016
Phil Stice

Phil had this 9 years ago

Phil had this 9 years ago

Mar 11th, 2016
Sam Shepard

Sam had this 5 years ago

Sam had this 5 years ago

Dec 13th, 2020