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The 2024 Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard is simply exceptional. Marked by pronounced reduction that speaks to the site rather than technique, it opens with notes of salted lime, curry powder, fresh mint, and chalky minerals. Full-bodied, it soars across the palate with remarkable energy, driving acidity, chalky grip, and extraordinary length, becoming increasingly savory through the finish. One of the finest wines tasted on this trip, it should age effortlessly for many years. Drink 2027-2045.
Seth Morgen Long began making his wines in 2014 and is exclusively dedicated to the production of Willamette Valley Chardonnay. Originally from North Carolina, his family relocated to the Willamette Valley when he was nine. Having worked In Volnay for Domaine de Montille in 2012 and 2013, he took their model for winemaking and returned to the Willamette Valley. Seth was making his wines in the Lingua Franca facilities until 2022, when they sold to Constellation, so he is currently operating out of Michael Etzel’s Sequitur estate, where the wines for this report were tasted. His style continues to evolve, and readers should find it no surprise that I still believe these wines can stand up to the best on the world stage and are prime examples of what is possible in the Willamette Valley for Chardonnay. As mentioned in my introduction of this report, I was also pleasantly surprised when the wines of Porcelina came across my desk in NYC. The inaugural release, Seth has taken on the role of winemaker for that label as well, and I believe those wines are also worth readers' attention.