8 Outstanding Oregon Chardonnays at 90+ Points

Chardonnays from Oregon’s Willamette Valley are proving they’re among the best in the world, alongside those from Burgundy and California. Their fresh fruit flavors and minerality concisely amalgamate New World boldness and Old World courtliness. This week’s Tasting Highlights pulls together eight outstanding Chardonnays rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale, emphasizing Willamette’s standing with this white wine variety.

Atop the list, Kristof—a brand new to Wine Spectator—made a splash with its first wines. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof returned to his hometown to convert a cherry farm purchased by his father into apple orchards and vineyards, from which Kristof makes cider and wine with the help of his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, and their two children. The dynamic Chardonnay from their Yamhill-Carlton estate offers apple and lemon flavors accented by honeysuckle and spices. It aged 10 months in 500-litre barrels for a light oak influence.

This lineup also includes Cristom's handsomely structured Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills 2023, Elk Cove's graceful and delicate Chardonnay Yamhill-Carlton Mount Richmond 2022, and picks from Adelsheim, Brick House, Eyrie, La Crema and Soléna. Read on to get our scores and full expert tasting notes for all of these outstanding Oregon Chardonnays!

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent ratings—including scores and full tasting notes—to WineSpectator.com members.

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