By Redolent Wine Company
2023 Dion Vineyard Chardonnay

Vintage Details
The 2023 vintage started off slowly, marked by a delayed bud break attributed to a chilly and damp Spring. May brought higher temperatures, setting the pace for the season, and it was relatively short timing between bud break and bloom. We received a wonderful fruit set, and it was off to the races. The weather all summer was great, with very few heat spikes. The main thing we noticed about this vintage was how dry it was. We received virtually no measurable rain for basically two months. However, a late August cool spell, coupled with a modest bit of rain, provided a welcome slowdown in sugar development, allowing for proper ripening to finish out the season. We picked everything in mid to late September, except for our Nebbiolo for red wine. So, when we got to the finish line, it was a fast and furious vintage for us. Upon reflection, this vintage felt reminiscent of warmer years, and we felt that 2018 might be the most analogous, though it also brought back memories of 2015 and 2016. These wines should be generous, fruit-forward, and approachable early, with wonderful texture and structure, and at their best, they should reward those who give them some time in the cellar.

Production
Grapes were hand-picked and brought directly to the winery in 1/2 ton totes in perfect condition. Native yeast fermentation takes place in French oak barrels (20% new, 80% neutral), and the wine remains on lees for a 12-month elevage. The wine is then racked into a stainless-steel tank to age for another six months. Bottled unfined in late January 2025.

Wine Details
AVA: Chehalem Mountains
Source: Dion Vineyard
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Harvest: September 12, 2023
Alcohol: 12.70%
Release Date: March 2025

Tasting Notes
Layered aromas of Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, wet slate, clove, and orange zest lead into flavors of golden apple, white pear, fresh apricot, and candied ginger, with a touch of hazelnut on the finish. A vibrant, textured Chardonnay with a lingering mineral lift.
[Information provided by Matador Vino]

Wine: Redolent 2023 Chardonnay Dion Vineyard
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2028
Review Date: 07/2025
Reviewed By: Eric Guido
Tasting Notes: Distinctly savory and perfumed, the 2023 Chardonnay Dion Vineyard wafts up with nuances of wildflowers and flinty stones that complement freshly sliced apricots. The nose is fruit focused, balanced by a pretty inner sweetness contrasted with mineral-tinged orchard fruit and a hint of sour citrus. This 2023 tapers off with tension, long yet clean, leaving a lemony concentration that puckers the cheeks.

Wine: Redolent, Dion Vineyard Chardonnay, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2023
Score/Rating: 90
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2030
Review Date: 08/28/2025
Reviewed By: Clive Pursehouse
Tasting Notes: Only five barrels of this Chardonnay from the Chehalem Mountains appellated, Dion Vineyard. Comprised of two Dijon clones of Chardonnay, this wine spends 12 months in 20% new French oak. Shy aromatically, the palate is full of lush lemon cream, and a brilliant mineral framing of crushed white stone and ocean brine.