2020 Andante Vineyard Estate Chardonnay Van Duzer Corridor Willamette Valley 750 ml

Standing on a hill in the Andante Vineyard, it’d be easy to think you’re a short hike from the coast. 

After all, you’ve got sea-kissed winds on your face and marine sediment under your feet. But that’s the magic of the Van Duzer Corridor, which has long supplied some of the Willamette Valley’s most coveted vineyard sites with Pacific influence. And Andante’s Estate Chardonnay, grown smack in the middle of that corridor, channels its energy with purity, tension, and grace. 

Andante made a scant 144 cases of their 2020 Chardonnay, yet it shows why the powers that be found the region’s wines compelling enough to award the Van Duzer Corridor its own sub-AVA status in 2019. Waves of aroma crash forth—first lemon peel, apricot, chamomile, and yellow flowers, followed by hints of hazelnut and spice. The palate is precise and vibrant, with stone fruit, citrus, and marzipan notes that play out over the finish. 

Andante is the definition of “off the beaten path,” three miles down a gravel road, practically hidden in the gently sloping hills. When Joe Allan and Karen Saul moved here, they discovered that the thin, sedimentary soils would hardly accommodate any crops—but boy, could they grow vines. Within a gap in the Coast Range, the vineyards are buffeted by marine winds in the afternoon, producing thick-skinned grapes with concentration and verve. 

They farm their vineyards using organic and sustainable practices, and they take a minimalist approach in the cellar, focusing on small-batch bottlings like this Chardonnay. It’s an enchanting wine, born of singular soils, thoughtful winemaking, and an undeniable coastal influence.