Medium yellow with a light gold tinge, the 2022 Chardonnay Casteel has lovely light reductive and briny notes, a jasmine floral profile, and hints of fresh golden apples and lemon oils. Full-bodied, how could you not love this? It’s a lovely, outstanding wine with a fantastic, long finish. A true pleasure-packed wine, it taps into just joyful, hedonistic pleasure. Outstanding. Drink 2024-2040.
97 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
A ripe and fleshy iteration of the Casteel Chardonnay from Bethel Heights shows an impressive depth of fruit. The Casteel is a barrel selection from the oldest vines planted in 1977 and the adjacent block planted in 1994, on the Eola-Amity Hills estate site. Weighty aromatics of lemon curd and roast almonds are lifted by notes of briny oyster shells and dried white flowers. The palate shows a rich ripe stone fruited density. Grilled peach, honeyed apricot and white tea leaves mingle with sappy Meyer lemon pulp and a tangy candied orange peel finish
95 points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter (Jul 2024)