2023 Shard - 750 ml
100% Unoaked Chardonnay
57 Cases Produced
Released TBD
Aging: 100% Stainless Steel
Harvest: Hand-picked 9/11/23
Vineyards: 100% Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Yields: 4.85-5.19 Tons per Acre
Date Bottled: 4/5/24
Stillwater Creek vineyard’s chardonnay blocks were planted in 2004. We have been working with a blend of 3 different clones of chardonnay, one clone from Champagne, one clone from Burgundy and one clone originally from Burgundy brought to the US by the Wente family of California and then propagated in Prosser, WA. The different clones add depth and complexity to the blend. Our 2022 Shard was harvested at just the right time in mid-September – late enough in the summer to achieve sufficient ripeness but early enough in the season to retain freshness and liveliness. The way that we make this wine has not changed through the years, everything we are doing here at the winery is to preserve what we tasted in the vineyard. The goal is to respect the clean purity of fruit and not obscure the personality of the chardonnay with oak barrels or malolactic fermentation. The result is delicious!
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Appellation | Royal Slope |
| Vineyard | Stillwater Creek |
| Harvest Date | 09/11/2023 |
| Aging | Stainless Steel |
| Alcohol | 14.30% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 04/05/2024 |
| Cases Produced | 57 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
| State of Origin | Washington |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
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VINTAGE |
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RATING |
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QUOTED REVIEW |
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2022 |
SHARD Chardonnay |
92 |
Dr. Owen Bargreen, WA Wine Blog |
For years Erica Orr has been making the ‘Shard’ — arguably the best unoaked Chardonnay made in Washington State. This 2022 edition displays dazzling nerve and tension, with plenty of weight. Freshly cut pears, mango, and juicy peach flavors combine with shades of salted butter French bread on the palate. This is just a joy to drink right now and drinks better slightly on the warmer side. Drink 2023-2030 |
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2022 |
SHARD Chardonnay |
90 |
Sean P. Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report |
All done in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation, the aromas show some initial reduction. Beyond that are notes of stone fruit and pear. A broad-feeling, textured palate follows. It’s an enjoyable, unadulterated look at this variety. Flash decant to clear the reduction. 14.1% alcohol. Screwcap. 122 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.
