Witness Eola Amity Hills
Last year, my longtime Burgundy client Matt Felton called to ask whether I sold domestic wine. I told him, ‘not really.’ After a slightly awkward pause, he politely explained that he and a group of investors had purchased the historic 100-acre Witness Tree Vineyard in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills.
First planted in 1982, Witness Tree has long been a coveted site for top Oregon producers including Walter Scott, Bergström, and Nicolas-Jay. Matt’s vision was straightforward: produce small quantities of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that honor this remarkable vineyard, with quality as uncompromising as the north star.
Having sold Matt the very best of Burgundy — Rousseau, Leroy, DRC — I knew he had no interest in anything less than exceptional. If he was involved, it was going to be special. He sent me a couple cases of Pinot Noir, and I poured them blind for friends and clients. Not a single person guessed anything but Burgundy. It was unlike any domestic wine I had ever tasted.
Sensing my enthusiasm, Matt told me, “Just wait — the 2023 is even better.” The vintage also marks the inaugural release of Witness Chardonnay, and he claimed it would “blow your mind… the most Burgundian new-world wine you will have ever tasted.” When the wines arrived last week, I opened both Chardonnay cuvées. I have to agree — they’re extraordinary.
Reverie is a painfully tiny selection of the very best barrels; mailing list customers of Witness receive only 2–3 bottles per case.
Chardonnay Eola-Amity is the workhorse of the lineup, radiating the same DNA: richness married to precision, energy, and mineral cut, with a finish that sails on for nearly a minute. I’ve never seen this combination in domestic Chardonnay.
This morning, Wine Advocate released its new Willamette Valley report. No surprise: both Chardonnays debuted at 94 and 95 points, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Oregon’s most elite estates — Domaine Serene, Evening Land, and others.
Word hasn’t truly gotten out yet, but for those seeking Oregon at its peak — wines that rival Burgundy’s finest terroirs — these 2023 Witness Chardonnays deliver in spades. Secure your bottles now, before you find yourself twenty names deep on the winery’s mailing list.
The 2023 Chardonnay comes from vines planted in 2017. It opens with wafts of matchstick and crème brûlée that give way to quince paste, peach preserves and honey. The full-bodied palate is silky and expansive with well-integrated flint and oak spice. It’s balanced by bright acidity and has a long, layered finish.
- Wine Advocate, 94
A barrel blend, the 2023 Chardonnay Reverie was matured in 88% new French oak. It has arresting aromas of flint and crème brûlée that give way to white peach, apricot and pastry. The full-bodied palate has a satiny texture and highly concentrated flavors, delivering waves of ripe fruit, spice and floral perfume. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a very long, nuanced finish.
- Wine Advocate, 95
The 2022 Pinot Noir Witness dazzles the senses with a lifted and cool-toned bouquet as delicate aromas of lavender and sweet spice complement wild blueberries. This is racy and energetic yet also light on its feet, impressing with a solid core of red berry fruits and tactile mineral tones that add tension toward the close. A tart cranberry crunchiness and a thrust of herbs lingers along with a subtle tinge of fine tannin as this finishes long, staining and refined. This is the inaugural vintage from Matthew Felton and his Witness Tree fruit, and if it's any indication, the future is very bright.
- Vinous Media, 92
