Review: Wines of Stoller Family Estate, 2024 Releases
We’ve been writing about the wines of Willamette-based Stoller for years, and today we’re diving into some whites and pinks from the operation — three from Stoller Family Estate, and one from its alternate (definitely not “second”) label, Chehalem.
Don’t know about you, but it’s still hot around these parts, so no need to worry about being seasonally appropriate.
2021 Stoller Family Estate Chardonnay Willamette Valley – Brisk and approachable chardonnay, lively with notes of grapefruit, pineapple, and gooseberry, all in roughly equal proportion. Ample acidity helps elevate this wine into a role as utility player — delightful on its own, but also a fine companion to a spicy meal, or a dish of seafood. Layers of baking spice and white pepper on the finish offer a complement to late-game elements of lime leaf and quince, only touched just so with vanilla. Versatile and all-around delightful. A- / $25
2022 Stoller Family Estate Chardonnay Dundee Hills Estate – A bit tart, almost astringent at times, this is a much more acidic wine than the above, though it is loaded with melon overtones that temper the finish with a creamier character that evokes thoughts of a salty prosciutto wrap. Some lemon curd and a healthy layer of vanilla give the finish more nuance and temper some of the up-front bite. B+ / $40
2023 Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir Rose Willamette Valley – Brisk, acidic, and lightly floral, this rose hits all the expected, summery highlights, evoking notes of strawberry, orange blossoms, and lemon curd — plus elements of floral jasmine and a hint of green tea. Clean but pretty, the wine finishes with note of clean linens and lavender — perhaps more springtime than summer in the end. A- / $28
2023 Chahelem Pinot Noir Rose Willamette Valley – Even more acidic and mineral-laden than the above, but tempered again by lots of floral notes, evoking lilac and strawberry blossoms before moving into more of a lavender overtone. Steely and refreshing, it’s as much a cleansing wine as the Stoller-branded bottling, though with less fruit and fewer flowers. If you like your rose more stripped down, choose this one instead of the Stoller. A- / $28
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