In cellar after cellar, we were absolutely FLOORED by the level of quality we were tastingwith prices that will make a TON of white Burgundy collectors reconsider their priorities. It felt like we had a sneak preview to Hamilton: The wines were astounding, and it was hard to believe that they arent already a national phenomenon.

One thing, however, was familiar: Just like with Pinot Noir, there may not be a better value out there than Solna.

Over his three decades in Oregon, hes put together an impressive collection of vineyards, including the 80-acre Solna estate, Domaine Danielle Laurent in Yamhill-Carlton, and the Hyland Vineyard in McMinnville, one of Oregons most storied sites. That access to prime Willamette Valley fruit gives Montalieu an unmatched ability to deliver stunning wines at bargain prices. For nearly any other producer, the grapes that go into this bottle would be marked for single-vineyard bottlesand sell for twice the price.

For this wine, a spectacular vintage didnt hurt. With dry conditions and low yields, 2021 promises to be a landmark year for Willamette Valley wines, with one veteran winemaker saying, It will certainly rank as one of our top five vintages. Its certainly a great vintage in the making and I dont say that lightly.

Aged entirely in French oak for texturebut with only 15% new wood, to make sure that any flavor impact is subtleLaurents Solna Estate Chardonnay captures the combination of power and grace thats setting this vintage apart as one of the recent greats. Its a fitting Chardonnay companion to our top-selling Pinot Noir. Dont miss it.