Crowley Wines Chardonnay, Willamette Valley '23

Tyson Crowley may still be a relatively new name to some wine drinkers, but within Oregon’s wine community he’s long been regarded as one of the most thoughtful, quietly meticulous voices in the Willamette Valley. After years spent learning the rhythms of the region—most notably through a formative five-year stretch as assistant winemaker at Cameron Winery in Dundee—Tyson crafted his first four barrels in 2005. What began as a modest project has grown into one of Oregon’s most compelling small wineries, now based at August Cellars, where he produces just 85 barrels a year of finely tuned Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

One of Crowley’s greatest strengths lies in the relationships he has cultivated over more than two decades in the Willamette Valley. He works exclusively with dry-farmed, sustainably grown, family-owned vineyards, and partners closely with growers to achieve balance in the fruit long before it reaches the cellar. His membership in the Deep Roots Coalition underscores this commitment: every site he works with is unirrigated, allowing the vines to dig deep and fully express their place.

Tyson gravitates toward cool, high-elevation vineyards and older clones—Wente for Chardonnay, and Wadenswil and Pommard for Pinot Noir—varieties that ripen slowly and retain the vivid acidity that has become a hallmark of his wines. Among his most distinctive sites is Four Winds Vineyard in the McMinnville Coast Range, perched at 825 feet above sea level and planted in 1993. Here, own-rooted Wente Chardonnay shares the hillside with small plantings of Dijon and Draper clones, all dry-farmed and south-facing, capturing both the lift and concentration that make Oregon Chardonnay so compelling.

The grapes are whole-cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts, then aged in a thoughtful mix of stainless steel and oak, with just 20% new wood. Full malolactic fermentation and extended lees aging contribute subtle texture without weighing the wine down—exactly Tyson’s aim. His winemaking is intentionally gentle, designed to let vintage and vineyard speak first.

In the glass, the wine is wonderfully expressive. Aromas of morning fog, green moss, and honeydew drift out of the glass, layered with a quiet richness reminiscent of clotted cream. The palate is taut yet vibrant, framed by chalky mineral tones that support flavors of kiwi, lemon, and tart lychee. The finish is long, elegant, and deeply mineral—a style that has become signature Crowley, and the kind of bottle that tends to empty far more quickly than intended.

While it is not time to give up on finding White Burgundy values, it is time to recognize the QPR that Oregon can provide in “cool climate” style Chardonnay.