2023 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Yakima Valley
94 points, International Wine Report
93+ points, Anthony Mueller
93 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Captivating aromas of puff pastry, preserved lemon and brûléed pear galette. The palate is ample and full with a nimble minerality to finish.
“Freshness and acidity wrap around understated power and grip, the wine skillfully textured to reveal layers of elegance and finesse. Light-bodied, it should continue to age well over the next 7-10 years.”- Virginie Boone from Jeb Dunnuck
“Drawn from DuBrul, French Creek, and Olsen vineyards, the 2023 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, was fermented in barrel over 22 days and raised for 15 months in French oak, 20% new, with weekly lees stirring shaping its breadth and detail. Rather than relying on sheer richness, it moves with a finely tuned line of acidity that carries green pear, preserved lemon, and wet stone through a light-bodied yet quietly authoritative frame. There is a subtle phenolic tension here, giving the mid-palate a gentle hold and lending dimension to its polished finish.” – Jeremy Young, 94 Points, International Wine Report
Crafted by intentional vineyard selection, this wine draws from two key vineyards in the Yakima valley that have a legacy for growing top-quality Chardonnay: DuBrul and French Creek vineyards.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Yakima Valley
Barrel Regime: 15 months in 20% new and 80% used French oak barrels
Alcohol: 13.4%
2022 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
94 points, International Wine Report
92 points, Vinous, Owen Bargreen
91 points, Jeb Dunnuck
This bottle bursts with aromas of Anjou pear, apple blossoms, fresh pineapple, and kumquat. Brilliantly vivid, layered, and precise, with a crisp, lively mid-palate.
“One of the better Washington Chardonnays I’ve tasted, the 2022 Entre Nosotros from Valdemar sports a light lemon core moving to a silver rim in the glass. Lush aromas and flavors of yellow flowers, sweet spice, fresh apricot and white peach, wet clay, and blanched almonds are all beautifully combined. Lush, elegant, and downright delicious, this should cellar well for the next 7-8 years.” -Jeremy Young, 94 Points, International Wine Report
“Ripe stone fruits, white flowers, and toasted spice notes all emerge from the 2022 Chardonnay Entre Nosotros, a medium-bodied, round, layered, beautifully textured Chardonnay that has terrific purity, nicely integrated oak, and outstanding length. As with all of Valdemar’s releases, it’s impeccably made and worth checking out.” – Jeb Dunnuck
Through intentional vineyard selection, this wine shows a captivating expression of Washington Chardonnay; each component from Gamache, French Creek, Olsen and DuBrul vineyards highlights sub-regions of the Columbia Valley known for their well-established, long-standing history of growing great Chardonnay.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Barrel Regime: 9 months in 20% new and 80% used French oak barrels
Alcohol: 13.4%
What’s Included
6-bottles:
3x - 2023 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Yakima Valley
3x - 2022 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Case:
6x - 2023 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Yakima Valley
6x - 2022 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Grounded in the strong belief that great wines are born in the vineyard. With Five Generations of Winemaking Legacy in Spain, Our Pioneering Spirit led us to Washington State.
Over 125 years ago, Joaquin Martínez Bujanda opened his first winery on a small tract in Oyón. For five generations, the Valdemar Family has been in constant pursuit of creating top quality wines. Their international focus and the creation of the first non-American winery in the state of Washington represent the natural continuation of this irrepressible urge to travel, taste, and discover new lands.
Founded in 2019, Valdemar Estates seamlessly blends modern design with natural elegance. Our balcony features a 58-foot waterfall wall and a 386-square-foot reflection pool. In our wine production facility, we have an indoor crush pad, one of the only in the region. And of course, guests can enjoy our wines and tapas while taking in the breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains.
Our goal is simple: to craft exceptional wines sourced from the finest vineyards in Washington and Oregon. Combining old-world elegance with a fresh, bold spirit, we create wines that truly embody their origins. Each bottle authentically captures the unique sense of place.
“We’ve made wine in Spain for the past five generations, and we plan to make wine in Walla Walla for five generations to come.” — Jesús Martínez Bujanda, 5th Generation CEO
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay Duo
6 bottles for $119.99 $20/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
My favorite pairings:
2022 - Sushi - the salt from the soy sauce really highlights the lees stirring and salty “drool factor” of this wine
2023 - Dungeness crab dip and potato chips!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay Duo - $40 = 16.66%
Hello. I don’t like chardonnay. It’s just not my thing. I’ve tried a lot of them, but I’ve never found one that makes me reach for a second glass.
So, when I got this bottle to try, I groaned and told my husband, who also doesn’t like chardonnay, “uuughhh it’s a chardonnayyyyyyyyyy” and threw it in the fridge, where it sat for a few days.
Knowing we had to get a review done, I decided to make some porcini and truffle mac & cheese (boxed - I’m not that fancy) with roast chicken breast to pair with it and prepared to review this wine with cautious skepticism.
To its credit, this is a perfectly respectable Chardonnay. It’s balanced, smooth, and doesn’t try to assault your taste buds with a lumberyard’s worth of oak. The flavors are well-integrated, the acidity keeps things from feeling heavy, and everything seems to be working together exactly as a Chardonnay enthusiast would hope. Notes wise, nothing stuck out awkwardly, and it was smooth from start to finish. It worked well with the meal, although in hindsight, I think this specific wine would do better with something brighter and citrus based.
For me, it remained unmistakably Chardonnay, which is both its greatest strength and my personal obstacle. If you like Chardonnay, this wine is doing exactly what it should be doing. If you don’t like Chardonnay, you’ll likely arrive at the same conclusion I did:
“Yep. That’s a perfectly good Chardonnay.”
And honestly, sometimes that’s the highest compliment a non-Chardonnay drinker can give.
@jtallant Thank you for your comment! I am the winemaker for Valdemar Estates - and as a chardonnay lover, I call this the “redemption chard” for someone who has been burned by oaked chardonnay in the past. I am so glad this chardonnay carried that tradition through for you!
Fill a few holes in above notes… the notes for the '22 Owen Bargreen… 92 points. The really good 2022 Valdemar Estates ‘Entre Nosotros’ Chardonnay is smooth and sleek on the mouth. Layers of citrus fruits combine with wet stone and shades of green papaya on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next several years. 1/24
The '22, Wine Review Online. 92 points. This Columbia Valley Chardonnay displays a somewhat European streak in its styling, as it is piquant but full-bodied, with green-fruit flavors of apples and grapes, good minerality, a firm structure, and a crisp finish. Roger Morris. 4/25
Suckling the '22. A medium-bodied, fresh yet creamy chardonnay with an array of lemons, fresh apricots, almond cream and salted butter. Tangy acidity. Drink now. 2/24
The 94 from IWR for the '22 was 1/24 drinking window 2024 - 2032
Wine Spectator the '22…87 points. Appealing for its handsome yet demure tones of apple and lemon curd. Drink now. 721 cases made. Tim Fish. 9/24.
Vinous, still the '22…
92 points. The 2022 Chardonnay Entre Nosotros opens in the glass with notes of crushed yellow opple and mint leaf complicated by hints of chalk dust and sweet spice. It’s soft and round, with juicy acidity and vivid ripe orchard fruits contrasting a core of salty minerals and sour citrus. Tones of vanilla custard resonate through the tension-filled finale, as the 2022 finishes lightly tannic with staining length. Drink 2025 - 2030
Eric Guido, 10/24
That 94 points from IWR for the '23 was from 2/26 with drinking window 2026 - 2034
@baldwino0@kaolis Thank you! We had our shipment to spectator get cooked in transit… but still reviewed. In case that explains the score anomaly there.
My last rattage was a long time ago, 11+ months (what’s up with that, Terry?). I mentioned the 2025 elections then, and here we are, with another one imminent. PLEASE VOTE!!!
Valdemar Estate Chardonnay 2023
• Yakima Valley, Entre Nosotros 100% Chardonnay, ABV 13.3% (label)
• 9 months 20% new and 80% used French oak barrels
I am sooo sorry for the lateness of this rattage! There was just no way I could stay awake until 12am ET (9pm PT). I’ve been on chemo so I sleep like 10 hours and stay in bed for 12. Enough about me. So finally, with reheated birria enchiladas verde in front of me for a noon breakfast, I’m ready to post what I wrote yesterday.
Color: Typical straw, very clear. Lots of legs in the glass.
Nose: Ripe kiwi, pears, Meyer lemon and lemon zest, pineapple. I do not really notice the oak… I might have guessed this was steel fermented, but I got a hint of the oak later. It’s so minimal IMHO. Ideal use of oak, I think.
Palate: Dry and crisp. Be sure to let this warm up to 55F to 60F, even though the winery notes suggest 42F to 46F.
@baldwino0 hope the chemo is doing its job! Sam’s Club sushi is surprisingly good, too…I’m sure sushi snobs would disagree but my Midwest (originally Kentucky) palate likes it.
@baldwino0 Hey there! This is Devyani, Head Winemaker at Valdemar Estates here… I wanted to say thank you so much for your review of our Chardonnay. “Next-level” really brought a smile to my face. Good luck with chemo
@baldwino0 Thank you! All the hard work that goes into making wine is worth it if you know someone (maybe even right now) is enjoying it. That’s what wine is meant to do - bring joy! I got into winemaking because a good wine was the only thing that could stop my mind right in its tracks. It didn’t matter what I was studying, stewing, or otherwise, when a great wine passed under my nose - all thoughts stopped and that moment of pause allowed me to soak in the enjoyment of that wine at that time. Nothing else mattered. And no other beverage has really captivated me like this.
Wine is complex, it brings people together. We have gathered over wine for millennia - let’s keep it going.
@ValdemarEstates If there was a “love” emoji here, I would use it. I did look at your bio on the Valdemar website (and LinkedIn), and I can see your dedication to “winegrowing” and your love of doing what you do. Keep on!
(Spanish makes sense (serendipity!), but psychology?). I majored in communications/jounalism but haven’t published anything in over 45 years.
@baldwino0 thank you, sincerely! It has been awesome chatting today and I hope to stay in touch. Will be thinking of you as you continue chemo - hope you respond well and can kick chemo to the curb soon!
@ValdemarEstates
While somewhat of a common question here, from some that also make their own wine…
Might you have any additional labs you could share for those having that additional interest?
@ValdemarEstates
Not something I personally do, but there is a good hand-full here that do crush that will see what you do, and many others just to know.
AbV alone provides very narrow insight.
Here’s a sample of what we get from some winemakers where we really enjoy the details.
Vintage: 2019 Varietal: Grenache Vineyard: Bates Ranch Corralitos sub region, Santa Cruz Mountains, 10th leaf of experimental planting Harvest Date: 15 October 2019 Harvest
Sugar: Brix: 21.8
Fermentation Techniques: 100% crush/destem, Anchor VN112 yeast inoculum, 7 gm/L untoasted Alliers chips, air seasoned 2 yrs.
ElevageDetails: Malolactic fermentation in barrel Neutral French oak aged 34 months
Alcohol: 13.0%
TA: 5.7 g/L
pH: 3.87
Production: 302 cases
@baldwino0 absolutely! Honestly, I feel like most of the time we are pulling it straight from the wine cellar in our basement at 58F. It doesn’t last long after that
Let’s geek:
Got a request for more details - and I am happy to let the genie out of the bottle and geek out. Something about me as a winemaker: I am ride-or-die when it comes to barrel fermented whites - especially for Chardonnay.
For both 2022 and 2023, they were whole cluster pressed, and we followed our “house” style of a hyper-oxidative pressing and pre-fermentation settling. This is inspired by old-world Chardonnay - which is built to age.
What does this mean? Grapes come in, and we load them directly into our press, we meticulously taste and check pH throughout the press cycle, we make our “cut” when we feel too much phenolic grip (we want just enough!), and then cold-settle in tank overnight. Juice is then racked with some turbidity the next day (or day after), and stirred for 2 additional days at cold temps before inoculating with yeast and moving to barrels for fermentation.
What doesn’t happen:
Additions. No settling agents or sulfur dioxide is added when we are “hyper-ox” pressing.
No dry ice.
No inert gas.
The goal:
Oxidize some of the phenolics upfront, polish tannins, and then let the yeast scavenge the remaining oxygen for fermentation.
The result:
Built-to-last chardonnay that is more resistant to oxidizing in the barrel-aging process.
Now, this is all before we have juice in barrels… more details to follow. I’ll post tech info for each vintage in the comments…
@rjquillin
2022 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay:
Barrel fermented and aged 9 months in barrel before bottling. We did bi-weekly batonnage on this year for 8 of the 9 months. I think the lees stirring here brings a nice “saltiness” to the wine.
pH: 3.35
TA: 6.9
Alc: 13.4
% Malo-lactic fermentation: 15%
20% new French oak, 80% “experienced” oak
Vineyard sourcing: Dubrul, French Creek, Olsen, Gamache
Vineyard details:
Dubrul and French creek are some of the oldest Chardonnay vineyards in the state. Our block at FC was planted in 1981!
Gamache has a high limestone content, relative to the rest of the columbia valley.
@rjquillin
2023 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay:
Barrel fermented and aged 15 months in barrel before bottling. We did bi-weekly batonnage on this year for the first 9 months.
pH: 3.28
TA: 6.4
Alc: 13.3
% Malo-lactic fermentation: 0%
20% new French oak, 80% “experienced” oak
Vineyard sourcing: Dubrul, French Creek
Vintage notes:
2022 was a long, cool vintage where things took quite a while to get ripe - in the case of this chardonnay, it was harvested 3 weeks later than usual. Thankfully a warm October helped us get to the finish line for the reds. 2022 is punctuated by more lime zest and fresher minerality in the whites from this vintage.
2023 warm and long, this vintage has yielded great concentration and aromatic range in the wines. It was not as “hot” and fast as 2021, and the extra hang time in Sept/Oct made 2023 one of my favorite vintages of the last 10 years.
5 hours left! Want to thank you all for the “rattage” and your questions and comments today! Cheers to my fellow Chardonnay “baddies” - and to those who say “Yes, AND” to Costco sushi. Until next time!
-Devyani Isabel Gupta, Head Winemaker
@ValdemarEstates Thanks for hanging out! I’ve been on a bit of an unofficial wine-buying moratorium, but this sounds like it’s worth a flyer on, so half a case it is.
@ValdemarEstates Looking forward to it. Gotta ask, based on your name – never mind sushi, how does it pair with Indian food? We’ve got some great places here in Jackson Heights.
@InFrom ABSOLUTELY! I love our 2022 with Indian food in particular because it’s a great match for the heat. Also anything salty. If left to my own devices, I would crush a glass with papadam and chutney… otherwise - matar paneer (2022 or 2023) and murgh achari.
If you’re looking for a wine and Indian food pairing: our blue mountain Syrah with Lamb Saag or a Lamb Biryani.
If you want to learn more about us - check us out!
5th Generation Family from Rioja begins Valdemar Estates in Walla Walla, WA
Family Owned & Operated by Jesus and Ana Martinez Bujanda (5th Generation)
Female/BIPOC Winemaker - Devyani Gupta https://valdemarestates.com/
IG @valdemarestates
@ValdemarEstates
Around here, participation isn’t quite everything, but it really counts and we appreciate it.
In for an order, due to that; but I have no idea where I’ll find room. Likely sharing some bottles.
Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay Duo
2023 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Yakima Valley
94 points, International Wine Report
93+ points, Anthony Mueller
93 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Specs
2022 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
94 points, International Wine Report
92 points, Vinous, Owen Bargreen
91 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
not for sale on winery website, $504/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 16 - Tuesday, Nov 17
Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay Duo
6 bottles for $119.99 $20/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2022 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay
2023 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay
My favorite pairings:
2022 - Sushi - the salt from the soy sauce really highlights the lees stirring and salty “drool factor” of this wine
2023 - Dungeness crab dip and potato chips!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay Duo - $40 = 16.66%
2022 Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay
Hello. I don’t like chardonnay. It’s just not my thing. I’ve tried a lot of them, but I’ve never found one that makes me reach for a second glass.
So, when I got this bottle to try, I groaned and told my husband, who also doesn’t like chardonnay, “uuughhh it’s a chardonnayyyyyyyyyy” and threw it in the fridge, where it sat for a few days.
Knowing we had to get a review done, I decided to make some porcini and truffle mac & cheese (boxed - I’m not that fancy) with roast chicken breast to pair with it and prepared to review this wine with cautious skepticism.
To its credit, this is a perfectly respectable Chardonnay. It’s balanced, smooth, and doesn’t try to assault your taste buds with a lumberyard’s worth of oak. The flavors are well-integrated, the acidity keeps things from feeling heavy, and everything seems to be working together exactly as a Chardonnay enthusiast would hope. Notes wise, nothing stuck out awkwardly, and it was smooth from start to finish. It worked well with the meal, although in hindsight, I think this specific wine would do better with something brighter and citrus based.
For me, it remained unmistakably Chardonnay, which is both its greatest strength and my personal obstacle. If you like Chardonnay, this wine is doing exactly what it should be doing. If you don’t like Chardonnay, you’ll likely arrive at the same conclusion I did:
“Yep. That’s a perfectly good Chardonnay.”
And honestly, sometimes that’s the highest compliment a non-Chardonnay drinker can give.
@jtallant Love the photo!
@jtallant
Fellow rat here. We had the '23 with Costco sushi. It was a pretty good pairing!
@jtallant Thank you for your comment! I am the winemaker for Valdemar Estates - and as a chardonnay lover, I call this the “redemption chard” for someone who has been burned by oaked chardonnay in the past. I am so glad this chardonnay carried that tradition through for you!
Fill a few holes in above notes… the notes for the '22 Owen Bargreen… 92 points. The really good 2022 Valdemar Estates ‘Entre Nosotros’ Chardonnay is smooth and sleek on the mouth. Layers of citrus fruits combine with wet stone and shades of green papaya on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next several years. 1/24
The '22, Wine Review Online. 92 points. This Columbia Valley Chardonnay displays a somewhat European streak in its styling, as it is piquant but full-bodied, with green-fruit flavors of apples and grapes, good minerality, a firm structure, and a crisp finish. Roger Morris. 4/25
Suckling the '22. A medium-bodied, fresh yet creamy chardonnay with an array of lemons, fresh apricots, almond cream and salted butter. Tangy acidity. Drink now. 2/24
The 94 from IWR for the '22 was 1/24 drinking window 2024 - 2032
Wine Spectator the '22…87 points. Appealing for its handsome yet demure tones of apple and lemon curd. Drink now. 721 cases made. Tim Fish. 9/24.
Vinous, still the '22…
92 points. The 2022 Chardonnay Entre Nosotros opens in the glass with notes of crushed yellow opple and mint leaf complicated by hints of chalk dust and sweet spice. It’s soft and round, with juicy acidity and vivid ripe orchard fruits contrasting a core of salty minerals and sour citrus. Tones of vanilla custard resonate through the tension-filled finale, as the 2022 finishes lightly tannic with staining length. Drink 2025 - 2030
Eric Guido, 10/24
That 94 points from IWR for the '23 was from 2/26 with drinking window 2026 - 2034
fwiw
@kaolis I’ll go with IWR’s 94 for the '23. Really delicious. (Rattage just posted, finally.)
@baldwino0 @kaolis Thank you! We had our shipment to spectator get cooked in transit… but still reviewed. In case that explains the score anomaly there.
My last rattage was a long time ago, 11+ months (what’s up with that, Terry?). I mentioned the 2025 elections then, and here we are, with another one imminent. PLEASE VOTE!!!
Valdemar Estate Chardonnay 2023
• Yakima Valley, Entre Nosotros
100% Chardonnay, ABV 13.3% (label)
• 9 months 20% new and 80% used French oak barrels
I am sooo sorry for the lateness of this rattage! There was just no way I could stay awake until 12am ET (9pm PT). I’ve been on chemo so I sleep like 10 hours and stay in bed for 12. Enough about me. So finally, with reheated birria enchiladas verde in front of me for a noon breakfast, I’m ready to post what I wrote yesterday.
Color: Typical straw, very clear. Lots of legs in the glass.
Nose: Ripe kiwi, pears, Meyer lemon and lemon zest, pineapple. I do not really notice the oak… I might have guessed this was steel fermented, but I got a hint of the oak later. It’s so minimal IMHO. Ideal use of oak, I think.
Palate: Dry and crisp. Be sure to let this warm up to 55F to 60F, even though the winery notes suggest 42F to 46F.
Finish: Lovely long, clean finish. Surprisingly long. Delicious.
I would call this a next-level Chardonnay and hope to see this sub $20 in the offer (I see it is for a case qty). That would make it VERY tempting.
Initially we drank some by itself. More in the glass to accompany Costco sushi (better than you might think).
@baldwino0 thanks for the review and good luck with chemo!
@baldwino0 hope the chemo is doing its job! Sam’s Club sushi is surprisingly good, too…I’m sure sushi snobs would disagree but my Midwest (originally Kentucky) palate likes it.
@baldwino0 Hey there! This is Devyani, Head Winemaker at Valdemar Estates here… I wanted to say thank you so much for your review of our Chardonnay. “Next-level” really brought a smile to my face. Good luck with chemo
@ValdemarEstates Thanks, Devyani, for your well wishes and for crafting such delicious wines!
@baldwino0 Thank you! All the hard work that goes into making wine is worth it if you know someone (maybe even right now) is enjoying it. That’s what wine is meant to do - bring joy! I got into winemaking because a good wine was the only thing that could stop my mind right in its tracks. It didn’t matter what I was studying, stewing, or otherwise, when a great wine passed under my nose - all thoughts stopped and that moment of pause allowed me to soak in the enjoyment of that wine at that time. Nothing else mattered. And no other beverage has really captivated me like this.
Wine is complex, it brings people together. We have gathered over wine for millennia - let’s keep it going.
@ValdemarEstates If there was a “love” emoji here, I would use it. I did look at your bio on the Valdemar website (and LinkedIn), and I can see your dedication to “winegrowing” and your love of doing what you do. Keep on!
(Spanish makes sense (serendipity!), but psychology?). I majored in communications/jounalism but haven’t published anything in over 45 years.
@baldwino0 thank you, sincerely! It has been awesome chatting today and I hope to stay in touch. Will be thinking of you as you continue chemo - hope you respond well and can kick chemo to the curb soon!
KRULL! A SKULL! BRETT HULL! AWESOME!
/showme Vladimir the Impaler enjoying a bottle of Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay
@TimW Here’s the image you requested for “Vladimir the Impaler enjoying a bottle of Valdemar Estates Entre Nosotros Chardonnay”
@mediocrebot @TimW This is awesome
VAN MURALS! GROUND SQUIRRELS! SPIT CURLS! AWESOME!
Hey all! Devyani Gupta, Head Winemaker @ Valdemar Estates here! Hit me with your questions! What do you want to know about our Chardonnays?
@ValdemarEstates
While somewhat of a common question here, from some that also make their own wine…
Might you have any additional labs you could share for those having that additional interest?
@rjquillin sure! What region are you in? So I have an idea of how to put some numbers in context.
@ValdemarEstates
Not something I personally do, but there is a good hand-full here that do crush that will see what you do, and many others just to know.
AbV alone provides very narrow insight.
Here’s a sample of what we get from some winemakers where we really enjoy the details.
Personally, I’m in SoCal, SD county
@rjquillin Absolutely!! Love this! Let me post it as a new comment, and I’ll tag you when it’s up.
@ValdemarEstates
And I’ll see if the admins, I’m just a volmod, can get it added into the main body as well.
Thanks!
Be cool (not cold!). I would recommend serving this chardonnay around 50F for keeping the aromatic profile open.
@ValdemarEstates I totally agree, maybe even 55F. (And not just because one of my chemo drugs makes my mouth and hands extremely cold-sensitive!)
@baldwino0 absolutely! Honestly, I feel like most of the time we are pulling it straight from the wine cellar in our basement at 58F. It doesn’t last long after that
Let’s geek:
Got a request for more details - and I am happy to let the genie out of the bottle and geek out. Something about me as a winemaker: I am ride-or-die when it comes to barrel fermented whites - especially for Chardonnay.
For both 2022 and 2023, they were whole cluster pressed, and we followed our “house” style of a hyper-oxidative pressing and pre-fermentation settling. This is inspired by old-world Chardonnay - which is built to age.
What does this mean? Grapes come in, and we load them directly into our press, we meticulously taste and check pH throughout the press cycle, we make our “cut” when we feel too much phenolic grip (we want just enough!), and then cold-settle in tank overnight. Juice is then racked with some turbidity the next day (or day after), and stirred for 2 additional days at cold temps before inoculating with yeast and moving to barrels for fermentation.
What doesn’t happen:
Additions. No settling agents or sulfur dioxide is added when we are “hyper-ox” pressing.
No dry ice.
No inert gas.
The goal:
Oxidize some of the phenolics upfront, polish tannins, and then let the yeast scavenge the remaining oxygen for fermentation.
The result:
Built-to-last chardonnay that is more resistant to oxidizing in the barrel-aging process.
Now, this is all before we have juice in barrels… more details to follow. I’ll post tech info for each vintage in the comments…
@ValdemarEstates @rjquillin
@rjquillin
2022 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay:
Barrel fermented and aged 9 months in barrel before bottling. We did bi-weekly batonnage on this year for 8 of the 9 months. I think the lees stirring here brings a nice “saltiness” to the wine.
pH: 3.35
TA: 6.9
Alc: 13.4
% Malo-lactic fermentation: 15%
20% new French oak, 80% “experienced” oak
Vineyard sourcing: Dubrul, French Creek, Olsen, Gamache
Vineyard details:
Dubrul and French creek are some of the oldest Chardonnay vineyards in the state. Our block at FC was planted in 1981!
Gamache has a high limestone content, relative to the rest of the columbia valley.
@rjquillin
2023 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay:
Barrel fermented and aged 15 months in barrel before bottling. We did bi-weekly batonnage on this year for the first 9 months.
pH: 3.28
TA: 6.4
Alc: 13.3
% Malo-lactic fermentation: 0%
20% new French oak, 80% “experienced” oak
Vineyard sourcing: Dubrul, French Creek
Vintage notes:
2022 was a long, cool vintage where things took quite a while to get ripe - in the case of this chardonnay, it was harvested 3 weeks later than usual. Thankfully a warm October helped us get to the finish line for the reds. 2022 is punctuated by more lime zest and fresher minerality in the whites from this vintage.
2023 warm and long, this vintage has yielded great concentration and aromatic range in the wines. It was not as “hot” and fast as 2021, and the extra hang time in Sept/Oct made 2023 one of my favorite vintages of the last 10 years.
@ValdemarEstates This is a wonderful post! Thank you for adding so much to the conversation.
Great rattage. Geeky winery participation. You can hear the SIWBM crumbling. In.
@msten love it!! Glad you enjoyed the rattage. Enjoy the chardonnay!! - Devyani
5 hours left! Want to thank you all for the “rattage” and your questions and comments today! Cheers to my fellow Chardonnay “baddies” - and to those who say “Yes, AND” to Costco sushi. Until next time!
-Devyani Isabel Gupta, Head Winemaker
@ValdemarEstates Thanks for hanging out! I’ve been on a bit of an unofficial wine-buying moratorium, but this sounds like it’s worth a flyer on, so half a case it is.
@InFrom Thank you for breaking the moratorium for us
ENJOY!!
@ValdemarEstates Looking forward to it. Gotta ask, based on your name – never mind sushi, how does it pair with Indian food? We’ve got some great places here in Jackson Heights.
@ValdemarEstates Half case for me, too. I need to slow way down on the case purchases. Costco sushi, I’m telling you!
@baldwino0 @ValdemarEstates OK, ok, I’ll check it out next time I make a run.
@InFrom ABSOLUTELY! I love our 2022 with Indian food in particular because it’s a great match for the heat. Also anything salty. If left to my own devices, I would crush a glass with papadam and chutney… otherwise - matar paneer (2022 or 2023) and murgh achari.
If you’re looking for a wine and Indian food pairing: our blue mountain Syrah with Lamb Saag or a Lamb Biryani.
If you want to learn more about us - check us out!
5th Generation Family from Rioja begins Valdemar Estates in Walla Walla, WA
Family Owned & Operated by Jesus and Ana Martinez Bujanda (5th Generation)
Female/BIPOC Winemaker - Devyani Gupta
https://valdemarestates.com/
IG @valdemarestates
/giphy glistening-updated-puma
An interview or two with Devyani,
A bit tardy however…
@rjquillin thank you for sharing (and reading)!
@ValdemarEstates
Around here, participation isn’t quite everything, but it really counts and we appreciate it.
In for an order, due to that; but I have no idea where I’ll find room. Likely sharing some bottles.
Hoping to see you around again…