Burgundy from Oregon?!

Prepare yourself for a startling, probably debatable but, if we say so ourselves, entirely defensible claim: Morgen Long makes the best Chardonnay in America. And he will be at Vine Street next Wednesday.

Last year, I had the pleasure taking a few friends to meet Seth (Morgen Long are his middle and last names) at his headquarters in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He’s an eccentric guy. In the best possible way. He might even be a genius. Over the course of several hours, he took us on a wild vinous ride through some of the most memorable, well-made Chardonnays any of us had ever tasted. Did I mention he only makes Chardonnay? When I asked him why, he said it’s the only grape that excites him. I think he thinks he’s changing the world, with these wines. At the very least, he changed mine.

Seth first discovered the singular beauty of Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley in 2009. He worked a handful of harvests and then decided he needed to go to Burgundy to learn from the best. He knew the terroir of the Willamette Valley could make truly world-class Chardonnays, but it wasn’t until he had spent a few years working at Domaine de Montille in Meursault that he was ready to begin his “life’s great work.” 2014 was the first vintage of Morgen Long, and his star has continued to rise ever since.

If you love Chardonnay (or even if you don’t!) and can only make it to one of our events this year, you would be doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t come to this one. I promise you, Seth’s Willamette Valley Chardonnay is every bit as good as anything coming out of Burgundy.