Johan Chardonnay, Van Duzer Corridor, Willamette Valley 2022 (750 ml)

100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12.1%
pH: 3.52
TA: 6.4g/L

Philosophy
The focus of our Chardonnay philosophy & approach lies in secondary and tertiary aromatic development of this noble grape variety. With extended aging prior to bottling, we see a decline in fruit and an increase in vineyard expression. Allowing the wine to stay in contact with the lees during the aging process acts as a natural antioxidant while taking advantage of the complexities that develop with late stage yeast autolysis. 

Vintage Notes
Following a relatively warm 2021-22 winter, the 2022 spring will long be remembered for frost impacts and the prolonged cool and wet conditions into mid-June. The vines were slow to recover but experienced nearly ideal conditions during bloom that led to a much larger than anticipated fruit set. The rest of the summer provided ample warmth, with a record-breaking stretch of eight days over 95°F in late July but very little heat stress compared to the 2021 vintage. September and October delivered with heat accumulation higher than any other ripening period in the data records and precipitation held off until the last week in October, one of the drier ripening periods on record. The entire 87 acres of Johan Vineyard was picked in just 11 days, an absolutely fast and furious vintage that will forever be remembered as a true logistical feat!

Production Notes
The clonal diversity of this wine brings complexity and balance to the whole. We picked
our three high acid clones separately: Old Wente, l’Espiguette, and musque – then
macerated or direct pressed the grapes and brought the juice together in tank before going down to barrel. This wine was barrel fermented with native yeasts in a combination of concrete egg (25%) and french oak (75%), only one barrel was new (9% of the blend). All components aged sur lie for 19 months,
allowing it to finish native malolactic fermentation. It was bottled April 25th, 2024 – unfiltered and bottle-aged for another yearand a half prior to its release in Fall 2025

Johan Winery & Vineyards
Biodynamic Vineyards in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Planted in 2002 and founded in 2005 Johan Vineyards is committed to Organic and Biodynamic principles (17 years). Demeter certified since 2010.

In the past eight years we have incorporated no-till and regenerative agriculture with animals.

With 15 varieties planted, diversity is key to us and although we are a Pinot Noir focused property, we also specialize in cool climate varieties from

France, Italy, Germany, and Austria.

Winemaker: Morgan Beck
Morgan's wine growing journey began with an Enology & Viticulture certificate program in Argentina, followed by apprentice experiences in Northern CA, Central Otago NZ, Casablanca Valley in Chile, and Oregon. She has worked in vineyard management in Sonoma/Napa, gaining experience in organic/BD viticulture, along with several ‘low manipulation’ winemakers in cellars throughout California and Oregon. Seeing the care and resulting quality and expression of the fruit from these experiences, Biodynamic practices have become a foundation of Morgan's personal winegrowing approach.  Her journey led her back to Oregon in 2015 for the incredible opportunity at Johan Vineyards, a Biodynamic vineyard and winery in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA focused on making estate-grown wines from a diverse array of grape varieties.  It is her mission to farm a holistic system that will showcase its own identity through the wine it produces. The translation of place as well as sharing the story of the growing season is Morgan's goal when guiding each wine from grape to bottle.

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