past vintages of the wild bee chardonnay
2021 Wild Bee Chardonnay
1133 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$34
release date: February 28th, 2023
label – charcoal drawing of a ‘wild’ bee by April Coppini
We love chardonnay and we love making it. So straightforward and yet delicious at the same time. Like the Willamette Valley Pinot, the Wild Bee is comprised of all the vineyards we work with, 7 in 2021, so a true representation of the Willamette Valley. Brian visits each site regularly and makes picking decisions mostly using his palate. He usually waits until he tastes flavors of ripeness and looks for signals in the grape (browning seeds, softening skins) and vine (some browning leaves) – and of course what the imminent weather presents.
tasting notes -
Reminiscent of a misty morning stroll on the coast, this intriguing chardonnay deftly balances sprightly vibrance with soothing comfort. Aromas of freshly sliced yellow apple, orange blossom and crushed seashells casually entice the senses. Warming impressions of lemon panna cotta and honeycomb develop on the palate before gently drifting away, leaving an essence of freshly baked brioche and apricot jam.
scores -
92 pts — Paul Gregutt
90 pts — Wine Spectator
93 pts — Owen Bargreen
92 pts — James Suckling
94 pts — Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice
94 pts — International Wine Report
93 pts — Decanter
91 pts — Wine & Spirits
9 pts — Vinography
16.5+ — Jancis Robinson (20 pt system)
2020 The Wild Bee Chardonnay
1250 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$30 (sold out)
label-a Wild Bee by April Coppini
2020 Wild Bee Chardonnay – the white wines were relatively unaffected by the challenges of 2020 and winemaking proceeded as normal. We still chose to forgo barrel selections to ensure the wine we bottled was our best it could be. Malolactic complete, a touch of new oak and yes – also bottled without filtration.
Truffled popcorn leaps from a glass of this refreshing, unfiltered gem. Warm vanilla and lavender-chamomile notes follow, along with kisses of caramel and butterscotch. Yuzu zest and freshly-cut papaya add an energetic lift while expressions of ground hazelnut and raw honey provide texture and weight. A rustic chardonnay perfect for any weather, rain or shine.
scores-
92 pts — James Suckling
9.0-9.5 — Vinography
93 pts — International Wine Report
94 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
93 pts — Wine Spectator
2019 The Wild Bee Chardonnay
1155 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$30 (sold out)
label – charcoal drawing of a ‘wild’ bee by April Coppini
This is a true Willamette Valley blend of all 7 chardonnay sites we work with, our largest bottling, from south of Salem, van Duzer, Eola Amity, Dundee and Yamhill-Carlton. Floral and stone fruit, mouth filling yet crisp – this wine is complex but also easy to love – with a delicious finish that lingers and persuades another sip or bite. Barrel fermented in French oak, mostly used but some new. Fermented with whatever yeast blows in the door, minimal sulphur added and the wine basically goes from barrels to bottle with only a short stay (2-3 days) in a blending tank. Filtration, fining and other nonesuch are completely left out of the program.
The 2019 Wild Bee welcomes you with aromas of delicate white rose petals, ripe Asian pear and vanilla-spiced almonds. Impressions of tangy key-lime pie with a subtle graham cracker crust balance on the palate alongside hints of honeysuckle and ripe papaya. An electric, mouthwatering finish slowly recedes, revealing a touch of sea salt along with a gentle kiss of crème fraiche.
scores-
92 pts — Wine Spectator
92 pts — James Suckling
92 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
past vintages (sold out)
2018 The Wild Bee Chardonnay
815 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$50 (sold out)
label – charcoal drawing of a ‘wild’ bee by April Coppini
2018 Wild Bee chardonnay – Delicious! Is anything else after that important? What more needs to be said? This is the highest compliment a wine can receive. Chardonnay has been part of the BTF portfolio since 2011, and I worked with it extensively during my early days in California as well. I pick my chardonnay when the fruit tastes good, flavors developing and seeds browning and starting to crunch. I like fruitiness, as well as other components, in my wine. Barrel fermented in French oak, mostly used but some new. Fermented with whatever yeast blows in the door, minimal sulphur added and the wine basically goes from barrels to bottle with only a short stay (2-3 days) in a blending tank. Filtration, fining and other nonesuch are completely left out of the program. Simplicity at its finest!
tasting notes -
This wine smells like warm apple pie and waxy white flowers. When you take your first sip there is an explosion of acidity that brings the pallet to life. Granny Smith apples are balanced with nuttiness and warm dough. The finish is bright and the acid lets you savor the apple, lemon and yeasty notes. This wine has a dry focused mouthwatering finish.
scores -
96 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
92 pts — Wine Enthusiast
93 pts — Owen Bargreen
91 pts — Wine Spectator
91 pts — Wine & Spirits
92 pts — Vinous
2017 The Wild Bee Chardonnay
525 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$75 (sold out)
label – charcoal drawing of a ‘wild’ bee by April Coppini
The Wild Bee! The Wild Bee represents a shift
in our chardonnay program. This wine takes the
place of our Willamette Valley Chardonnay –
only in name, label and price! Same vineyard
sources, same winemaking, same barrels. The
Wild Bee is a combination of all 6 sites of
chardonnay that we work with and is a fantastic representation of Willamette Valley Chardonnay for 2017. We hope you enjoy it, lots of it! For the first time we have chosen another artist’s drawing to dress The Wild Bee, someone whose work both Clare and I have admired for quite a while. Thank you April Coppini!
Tasting notes – At first blush this wine’s aromatics offer up lemon custard and stone fruit. This is a clean bright expression of our chardonnay. It has a persistant white floral note that leads into warm toast and hazelnut – this all shows off the perfectly developed golden grapes that finish like a bite of perfectly ripe pear. The acid is fine and complex without any hard edges giving this wine tension to help you appreciate it’s subtleties.
scores-
93 points - Washington Wine Blog
93 points - International Wine Report
92 points - James Suckling
93 points - Wine Spectator
92 points - Purely Domestic Wine Report
91 points - The Pinotfile - Prince of Pinot