Woehler on
Wine

June 6, 2001

by Bob Woehler

Bob Woehler has been writing about grapes and wines of the Pacific Northwest since 1978. His columns appear twice monthly in the Tri-City Herald in Tri-Cities, Wash.

Past columns:

Bob Woehler has been writing about grapes and wines of the Pacific Northwest since 1978. His columns appear twice monthly in the Tri-City Herald in Tri-Cities, Wash.

March 28
L'Ecole Winery

March 7
Di Stefano Winery

Feb 20, 2001
National Recognition
of NW Wines

Dec 5, 2000: Northwest Ports

Nov 15- Tri City Awards

Oct 26- Canadian Wines

Oct 5- Preston Premium Wines

colums reprinted with permission

Reprinted by permission of Wine Press NW

Washington/Idaho Chardonnay tasting
full of surprises

Wine tasting can sometimes be like opening a box of chocolates - you often don't know what you're going to get.

Sorry, Forrest Gump, but that analogy was sort of true for a tasting of nearly 100 Pacific Northwest chardonnays by a Wine Press Northwest panel earlier this spring.

Of course we knew we were going to find a lot of good chardonnays and a few great ones in the blind tasting, but what we didn't know was that the majority of the ones that received the outstanding rating would be some of the more inexpensive chardonnays.

Chardonnay is the nation's largest-selling wine variety, and the same is true for the Northwest. The dry white wine often with a rich, full taste and oak overtones is a favorite either as an appetizer or with fish or fowl.

I'll mention those from grapes grown in the Mid-Columbia in order of preference starting with the top outstanding category, then on to those judged excellent.

Outstanding

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley
- Toasty oak beginning. Lots of flavors of tropical fruit, apples and spice with a long, rich finish. (Best buy)

Columbia Crest 1999 Grand Estates chardonnay, Columbia Valley
- Great integration of vanilla oak and ripe fruit makes this a big, buttery chardonnay with a long and satisfying finish. (Best buy)

Hogue Cellars 1999 Fruit Forward chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Lovely tropical fruit including pineapple and coconut give this wine great richness, excellent acidity and a smooth finish. (Best buy)

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 1999 Conner Lee Vineyard chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Nice toasty aromas with rich, bold, fruity flavors including apples and a pleasant mouth feel at the finish.

Chateau Ste. Michelle 1999 Cold Creek Vineyard chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Excellent oak beginning with complex butter cream flavors and consistency. Hints of tropical fruit and citrus end with a rich finish.

Excellent

L'Ecole No. 41 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Nice tropical fruit highlight this full-flavored, well-balanced wine with a rich send-off.

Apex Cellars 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Smoky oak aromas with right-on acids make this a delicious and delightful wine that is an excellent accompaniment with a variety of seafood or creamy chicken dishes.

Barnard Griffin 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Good oak beginning with pleasant pineapple and melon flavors and a delicious, rich, buttery finish.

Chateau Ste. Michelle 1999 Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Apples and tropical fruit with light oak aromas make this a flavorful complex wine.

Chateau Ste. Michelle 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Nice butterscotch richness adds to the good fruit components and crisp finish.

Pend d'Oreille Winery 1999 Bistro Blanc chardonnay, Washington,
- A well-balanced toasty wine with apple fruit and a bit of nuts on the finish. (Best buy)

Woodward Canyon Winery 1998 Estate chardonnay, Walla Walla Valley,
- If you like oak, this is for you. Big vanilla aromas lead to lots of rich fruit flavors tempered by excellent acids.

Chinook Wines 1998 chardonnay, Yakima Valley,
- Solid oak beginning, pineapple and tropical fruit flavors and fine crispness lead to a satisfying finish.

Columbia Crest 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Floral citrus aromas with vanilla. Light acids and a long, clean farewell. (Best buy)

Woodward Canyon Winery 1999 Celilo Vineyard chardonnay, Washington,
- Big, lush and buttery with great oak. Lot of acids to balance the fruit that includes tropical and a touch of lemon.

Apex Cellars 1999 Outlook Vineyard chardonnay, Yakima Valley,
- Smooth as silk with complex flavor and a great mouth feel. Nice toasty oak beginning.

Gordon Brothers Cellars 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Toasty with a little mineral characteristic. Nice fresh, fruity flavors and a good balance of acids and fruit.

W.B. Bridgman 1999 chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Good oak and white flower aromas. Excellent balance, fresh and rich with great finish. (Best buy)

Columbia Crest 1998 Reserve chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Nice toasty aroma showing classic fruit, lots of butter and a pleasing mouth feel.

Hoodsport 1998 chardonnay, Yakima Valley
- Balanced between fruit and oak. Excellent length of flavors including tropical fruit.

Columbia Winery 1999 Woodburne Cuvee chardonnay, Columbia Valley,
- Complex full-bodied wine with fruit and with nice yeasty aroma. Crisp food friend finish.

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