2021 Reserve Chardonnay - 750 ml
100% Chardonnay
75 Cases Produced
Released 8/1/2023
Aging: 13 months in oak (28% new), then 9 months in stainless steel
Harvest: Hand-picked 9/3/21
Vineyards: 100% Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Yields: 4.71-5.11 Tons per Acre
Date Bottled: 7/7/23
This is the inaugural vintage of our Reserve Chardonnay. We have been working with clone 75 Chardonnay from block 28A at Stillwater Creek vineyard for many years. In the past, we blended the fruit from that block with clone 95 Chardonnay from block 25 to make the Baer Shard. In 2021, we decided to ferment the clone 75 in one new French oak barrel and two neutral used barrels. The new barrel we selected from Tonnellerie Quintessance is called “Hydro-Dynamique”. The special process of making this barrel reduces the astringent oak tannin impact and adds a subtle vanilla and light spice character to the wine. After 13 months in the oxidative environment of oak barrels, we moved the wine into reductive stainless steel drums following a technique made popular by Meursault winemaker Dominique Lafon to “chisel the cheekbones” and “drop the baby fat”. After 9 months in drum, we bottled the wine without filtration in the summer of 2023.
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Appellation | Royal Slope |
| Vineyard | Stillwater Creek |
| Harvest Date | 09/03/2021 |
| Aging | 13 months in oak (28% new), then 9 months in stainless steel |
| Alcohol | 13.70% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 07/07/2023 |
| Cases Produced | 75 |
|
VINTAGE |
WINE |
RATING |
REVIEWER |
QUOTED REVIEW |
|
2021 |
RESERVE Chardonnay |
93 |
Dr. Owen Bargreen, WA Wine Blog |
The ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay is a new wine to the Baer lineup, as this bottling is clone 95 Chardonnay from block 25 in the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Stored in Tonnellerie Quintessance is called “Hydro-Dynamique” barrels, this offers a smooth mouthfeel with fantastic texture. Layers of orchard and tropical fruits combine, all leading to a minute-long finish. A steal at 35 bucks, this 2021 Chardonnay is flat-out fabulous stuff that has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another ten years. But why wait? Drink 2023-2033 |
|
2021 |
RESERVE Chardonnay |
90 |
Sean P. Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report |
This is the winery’s inaugural vintage of reserve Chardonnay. It’s all Clone 75, aged in one third new French oak for 13 months and then moved to stainless steel. Aromas of pumpkin flesh, peach, toast, vanilla, and sweet spice lead to a rounded, richly textural palate, with caramel and stone fruit flavors. It’s a strong start for this wine. 13.7% alcohol. Micro-agglomerated cork. 75 cases produced. |
Consulting Winemaker
Erica Orr has worked in the wine industry since 1998. Her first harvest was with Cathy Corison in the Napa Valley. That experience prompted Erica to enroll in the enology master’s degree program at UC Davis where she researched the indigenous yeast microflora in native chardonnay barrel fermentations. She completed her master’s degree in 2003.
In addition to her master’s degree from UC Davis, Erica’s scientific training includes a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and three years of research experience as a biochemistry lab technician for 2009 Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UC San Francisco.
As a San Francisco Bay Area native, she is passionate about food and wine, and dedicated to quality-oriented, thoughtful winemaking.
