2021 Linden Vineyards - Village Chardonnay Virginia (750ml)

The 2021 Linden Vineyards Village Chardonnay is a beautifully crafted white wine from one of Virginia's most respected and terroir-focused producers. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 60 miles west of Washington, DC, Linden Vineyards sources its entire production exclusively from three distinct vineyard sites, and is best known for its single-vineyard Chardonnays and Bordeaux-variety red blends. The Village Chardonnay represents an approachable expression of the estate's philosophy, blending fruit from those same prized sites into a single, cohesive wine.

The 2021 Village Chardonnay is a blend of declassified Hardscrabble barrels, primarily from younger vines, along with Chardonnay from the Boisseau Vineyard. The Hardscrabble fruit comes from the estate's flagship site atop the Blue Ridge at 1,300 to 1,400 feet elevation, where deep, well-drained mineral soils deliver acidity and structure, while the Boisseau Vineyard contributes from a high bluff above the Shenandoah Valley floor in Front Royal, planted with Dijon clones 96 and 76.

In the cellar, chilled grapes were sorted, pressed, and settled before being barrel-fermented warm in old, neutral French oak, with no malolactic fermentation. The wine was then aged sur lie in barrel for 10 months. Only 2,630 bottles were produced.

The 2021 vintage is more powerful than previous releases, reflecting a riper, warmer growing season. In its youth, the aromas show distinct apple skin and orange zest, while the palate delivers richness and warmth with a ripe generosity. A whiff of slate on the nose underscores the wine's mineral character, and fresh, crunchy apple peel carries through on the palate. This Chardonnay pairs well with rich fish, braised chicken, or a creamy tahini hummus, and will continue to develop with additional bottle age.