SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, JON BONNÉ, DECEMBER 5, 2014

2012 Bethel Heights Chardonnay – “One of Oregon’s best Chardonnay examples…”

2012 Bethel Heights Estate Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay ($28, 13.5%): A property better known for its Pinot, but cousins Ben and Mimi Casteel have also put forward one of Oregon’s best Chardonnay examples, from plantings that include own-rooted Wente clones dating to 1977. Fermented in mostly old oak, it’s graceful and tangy, and shows a terrific breadth: lime peel, quince, casaba melon, wet stones, plus a classic juiciness.