2023 Approachment Chardonnay Review

When I first read the early reviews of the 2023 Approachment Chardonnay (@approachmentwines), I knew it was something special. Not just because of the buzz, but because this is Paden’s first Chardonnay for Approachment. That alone made it one to watch. If you do not already know, Paden learned a ton from Isabelle Meunier, one of Oregon’s great winemaking talents. That influence is clear in this wine. I waited too long to grab a few bottles, and of course, it sold out. Fast forward to a visit to Lincoln City, where I stopped into the new Sea Horsey Bottle Shop (@seahorsey.bottleshop). When I saw a bottle of the 2023 on the shelf, there was zero hesitation. I grabbed it without a second thought and felt like I had just won the wine lottery. Tonight is night two with this wine, and it is showing even better than last night. Watching it open up yesterday was fascinating, but today it is fully in the zone. This wine is built to age, no question. I remember trying to describe the profile of an Oregon Chardonnay during a podcast last year. The 2023 Approachment Chardonnay feels like it breaks the mold in all the right ways. It is lean, crisp, and beautifully restrained. The acidity is perfectly balanced. It shows up, but never dominates. At room temperture the subtle spice notes start to unfold, leading to a finish that just keeps going. This is a wine that tells its own story. Confident. Clean. Quietly powerful.