Golden Cluster Noburg Chardonnay

Jeff Vehr co-owns the Portland wine bar Les Caves and makes his own distinct Oregon wines, steeped in a mix of traditions with a healthy dose of experimentation. He has labels under many names but mostly under the umbrella of Golden Cluster. 

Noburg is a unique Oregon Chardonnay made in a French tradition, similar to that of the Jura. Some of the barrels are topped up, meaning that as wine in the barrels evaporates, wine is added to fill in the space and protect the wine from oxidation, in order to retain more of the youthful fruit notes. Some of the barrels are not topped up and experience more oxidation, hence a more savory, nutty profile. The result is a complex palate that is a far-cry from the buttery chardonnays we’ve all learned to hate (or claim that we hate).