2021 Bethel Heights 'Casteel' Chardonnay

Aromas of preserved lemon, white peach, and orange blossom integrate with sophisticated notes of wet flint, toasted hazelnut, and a touch of sea spray. The palate is medium-bodied and strikingly precise, featuring a focused mineral core and a high-toned acidity that vibrates through layers of citrus oil and orchard fruit. It possesses a phenolics-driven texture that is silky yet firm, leading into a long, savory finish that emphasizes tension and crystalline purity.

The winemaking team utilizes a selection of the very best barrels from the estate, often focusing on the oldest Chardonnay vines planted on the property. In the cellar, the fruit is whole-cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts in French oak barrels. The wine matures for approximately 11 months in barrel, with a carefully managed percentage of new oak to ensure the wood provides structure without masking the fruit. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to occur naturally, but the cool-climate acidity remains the dominant structural element.

The fruit is grown exclusively on the Bethel Heights Estate in the Eola-Amity Hills of the Willamette Valley. The site is defined by its shallow, volcanic soils over basalt bedrock. This specific vineyard is famously influenced by the Van Duzer Corridor, which funnels cool Pacific air into the valley every afternoon. This dramatic cooling effect slows ripening and preserves the intense acidity and mineral drive that make the "Casteel" bottling a benchmark for high-elevation, volcanic-soil Chardonnay in Oregon.