00 Wines (Double Zero) VGW Chardonnay 2018

While Pinot Noir has long been the main focus in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Chardonnay is their new rising star. Chardonnay is not new to the region, but the combination of finally isolating the proper clones and matching them to their ideal soils has sparked a new love affair with this Burgundian grape. Heck, even Dominique Lafon, one of the most respected producers in Burgundy has called Willamette Valley Chardonnay "the best in the New World." And one of the producers making the most thrilling Chardonnay's out of the region is 00 (Double Zero) Wines!

00 sources Chardonnay grapes from some of the Willamette Valley's most notable and selective growers. This wine is made in the "Black Chardonnay" method; a process where the grape juice is exposed to a substantial amount of oxygen prior to fermentation, with no sulphites added, which turns the juice a dark brown or black colour. However, once the juice is fermented, the wine turns a brilliant gold colour, and it resists oxidation while in the bottle. This method is being used in Burgundy and California and pays in spades when done correctly. The VGW bottling quite literally stands for Very Good White, and that's exactly what this is; a VERY good white wine, and it's bottled with minimal pre-bottling sulphites! This is a Chardonnay that can stand toe-to-toe with some of the best made in Burgundy, and throughout the world.