Wine with Bok
9.25/10

Jean-Claude Ramonet Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Murgers des Dents de Chien 2019 versus Lange Freedom Hill Chardonnay 2020

Besides Pinot Noir which is the key production for Lange, they also produce Chardonnay wines. I have tasted a bottle of the past vintage, and I’m rather impressed with the quality. As you can see, I did the comparison using a Premier Cru from burgundy to pitch against this New World Chardonnay. The outcome is quite stunning. Ramonet is a big name in burgundy producing very stunning wines that needs no introduction. Les Murgers des Dents de Chien is a great plot in Saint-Aubin, which is overlooking the famed Montrachet and Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru vineyards. This wine is of very classic burgundy style, soft and feminine are the key characters. It definitely deserves its Premier Cru status. Lange is a totally different breed with very crisp and taut style. Perhaps the sparring is of totally irrelevant due to the extremely different style, but I still find it interesting to have an opinion on the fight. The power of the New World Wine could not overwhelm the Old World style, and Ramonet guarded its territory like a solid wall. Meanwhile, Ramonet’s classic backward style also could not asset any influence over Lange Chardonnay. At the end of the day, I have to call it a truce for this match. It all boils down to what the drinker prefers what kind of style for their white wine, thus this is really beyond my recommendation as I think both wines are very well made.

Our Single Vineyard Designate series pays homage to the vaunted terroirs of the Willamette Valley. While constrained by these terroirs, as winemakers we still have to summon the blending skills to combine, oftentimes, dozens of different lots of wines from the same vineyard while being mindful of the intriguing sense of place that terroir brings. These wines speak resolutely of where they are grown and are distinctly complex and powerful. The Lange’s have sourced fruit from the Duschee family since 1996. Our Dijon clone 76 block at Freedom Hill was planted in 1998. The site’s typically warm days and cool nights allow for complete fruit ripening while maintaining essential acid balance.

James Suckling  - 93 Points 
Dried apple, grilled pineapple, lemon peel and cedar on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity. Plenty of concentrated fruit and toasty layers leading to a bright, vivid finish. Drink now. Screw cap.