Libertine Wines -- Chardonnay

“Producer of neo-natural, non-interventionist, experimental wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.” 

“Producer of neo-natural, non-interventionist, experimental wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.” 

I’ve been on the hunt for “cool local wine” and this is exactly what I had in mind. Winemaker Alex Nealy is “producer of neo-natural non-interventionist experimental wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.” Extremely small production wine, only 66 cases produced.

A fairly serious wine, rather surprising given the backstory and wild & crazy label art. Definitely on the earthy side, with racy acidity that begs for some winter oysters. Winemaker says it’s closer to Chablis than Montrachet, and he’s not wrong.

Grape: Chardonnay 100%

Region: Gradient Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Farming: Organic, LIVE Certified Sustainable

Winery: 2 day cold soak on skins, spontaneously fermented with wild yeast in neutral oak, unfiltered/unfined, fractional amount of sulfite added at bottling, extremely small production (66 cases produced)