Gorman Winery “The Big Sissy” Chardonnay
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Gorman Winery’s The Big Sissy Chardonnay, hailing from the Columbia Valley, represents a refreshing departure from the conventional style typically associated with Washington Chardonnays.
- While many of these wines are celebrated for their rich viscosity and creamy mouthfeel, The Big Sissy stands out with its unique characteristics. This Chardonnay is lighter and more vibrant, offering a balance of bright acidity and fruit-forward flavors.
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Elaboration: Hand-harvested in the cool hours of the morning to preserve freshness and balance. Whole cluster pressed, cold settled and fermented in French oak barrels with native and inoculated yeasts. Aged sur lie for 9 months with weekly batonnage to build texture and complexity.
Tasting Notes: The Big Sissy Chardonnay is a bold and expressive take on Columbia Valley Chardonnay. Generous flavors of pear, tropical fruit, and warm spices are layered with a lush, lingering finish.
PRESS
2024 – 92 Wine Spectator
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Chris Gorman is the highly respected owner and winemaker at Gorman Winery in the northeast Seattle suburb of Maltby. After graduating from college in 1991, Chris spent three years working for a small Italian importer. His philosophy was, and still is, “to make wine, it is imperative to understand it.” So, for the next decade, he traveled extensively in the wine areas of Italy, Spain, and Germany before returning home and establishing Gorman Winery in 2002.
He began by choosing premium suppliers and respected growers, such as Kiona Vineyards, partnering with the finest coopers and suppliers, and producing small-batch wines that quickly gained a following. His wines have been described as delicious, raucous, and intense. Chris’s other love is music, and his Woodinville, Washington, tasting room features walls decorated with celebrity-signed guitars. Live music is offered there on Friday nights.