Tasting Notes Digest
White Wine Page
Updated 10/13/2008

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Chardonnay

Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 CH
Willamette Valley Chardonnay
$22.00

The folks at Adelsheim craft this beauty with mostly stainless steel fermentation and just a hint of barrel contact in neutral cooperage.  Look for aromas of spicy pear, honey, white peach and mineral leading to a palate of pear, citrus and mineral flavors.  Great with oysters.
(10/08 CH)

Chateau Ste. Michelle
2006 Chardonnay
Indian Wells Vineyard
$18.00

The Indian Wells Vineyard is on the Wahluke Slope and has been the source for many great wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle. This single-vineyard Chardonnay shows aromas of citrus, ripe apple and tropical fruit. The delicate palate is well balanced between tropical fruit flavors and toasty oak/sur lie character. An elegant choice for your next sit-down dinner. (10/08 CH)

Chehalem
2007 INOX Chardonnay
Willamette Valley
$19.00

We like this wine every year. Crafted from Dijon clone Chardonnay and fermented only in stainless steel tanks (the name "INOX" is a contraction of the French word for stainless steel), the wine offers great character due to the blend of Dijon clone fruit and careful handling from vine to bottle. Aromas of apple, pear, mineral, melon and citrus mingle with notes of baking spice. The palate is exceedingly clean and crisp and the moderate alcohol content (13.4%) makes this a superb food wine. and you won't be disappointed. (10/08 CH)

Columbia Crest
2005 Chardonnay, Reserve
Horse Heaven Hills
$25.00

The Horse Heaven Hills AVA may turn out to be Washington's finest growing region. This blockbuster Chard shows rich aromas of pear, pineapple, coconut and baking spice along with forward notes of French oak. The palate teems with tropical fruit flavors mingled with buttery, oaky goodness. Not necessarily a great food wine, but a show stopper for Baby Boomers looking for flavors of their past! (10/08 CH)

Columbia Crest
2006 Grand Estates Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
$11.00

This wine is sort of the lesser sibling of the one described immediately above. Similar aromas and flavors are there, but in lesser amounts and offering a softer impression. Bring this terrific sipper along on your next picnic. (10/08 CH)

Henry Estate
2005 Chardonnay
Oregon
$15.00

This is an elegant Chardonnay with delicate aromas of apple and pear complemented by notes of anise and toasty oak. The palate leans toward rich and creamy, though ample acidity balances the mouthfeel - especially nice with steamed mussels. (10/08 CH)

Hoodsport
2006 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
$10.00

A classic, lighter Washington Chardonnay, this bottling from Hoodsport's Orca series, fills the bill for sipping at the picnic or by the pool. Blended with 14% Sauvignon Blanc, the wine offers aromas and flavors of ripe pear and apple with citrus and tropical notes in the background. Good value. (10/08 CH)

Kestrel Vintners
2006 Estate Old Vine Chardonnay
$20.00

Historically, this is a wine of note. From perhaps the oldest Chardonnay planting in Washington (1972) the grapes are of the Wente clone, an unusual cultivar in Washington. Look for aromas of Asian pear, citrus, and toasty oak with notes of tropical fruit. The palate offers all of the above with the addition of rich honey/butter flavors. Try a bottle for a great tasting experience and to stimulate a short discussion about wine country history.
(10/08 CH)

Sockeye
2006 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
$12.00

This value-priced bottling comes from Precept Brands, now building a new production facility in Walla Walla. Look for bright aromas of citrus and mineral with a background of light pear and vanilla. The palate is soft with apple and citrus notes and hints of oak in the finish. A nicely toned-down alcohol content (13%) is an added bonus. (10/08 CH)

Three Rivers Winery
2006 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
$19.00

Winemaker Holly Turner continues to create fine varietals, often by sourcing fruit from around the Columbia Valley AVA. The nose of this flavorful and complex wine shows tropical fruit and pear with hints of spice and toasty oak. The palate is soft and approachable with tropical flavors and notes of sur lie aging. See if you can pinpoint these vineyard sources on your Washington map: Bacchus, Sundance, Weinbau, and Champoux. (10/08 CH)

 

Fumé Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc

Ash Hollow
2007 Sauvignon Blanc
Columbia Valley
$20.00

Aromas of citrus, melon, mineral and herb greet the taster with flavors following the same path. Crisp acidity and flavors of lemon, grapefruit and tropical fruits make for a very appealing oyster wine. (10/08 CH)

Chateau Ste. Michelle
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard
$18.00

A combination of barrel and stainless steel fermentation gives this wine great complexity and expands the varietal character.  The nose is of fresh grass, mineral and citrus with notes of herbs and earth.  The palate is rich with citrus, mineral and light creaminess from the sur lie aging.  A quintessential wine for mussels, though those seeking a more substantial oyster wine will find this appealing. (10/08 CH)

Desert Wind
2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Bare Naked, CV
$15.00

This all-stainless-steel fermented Sauvignon Blanc offers all the characters sought by oyster lovers. Delicate aromas of citrus and herb lead to a crisp palate of green apple, grapefruit and Asian pear. Serve chilled with your oysters on ice. Yummm! (10/08 CH)

DiStefano
2007 Sauvignon Blanc
Columbia Valley
$16.00

Shuck the oysters, steam the clams and put another shrimp on the barbie!  DiStefano's delightful Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect accompaniment to our bounty of Northwest shellfish and snow white Alaskan halibut. Aromas of citrus, dusty apple and delicate grassy herbs are complemented by floral notes and hints of stone fruits. The palate is citrusy and crisp, perfect for summer sipping with seafood. (10/08 CH)

Geyser Peak
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
California
$12.00

Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc is a perennial winner in many oyster wine contests, and it showed its stuff in our tasting as well. The nose offers citrus notes of lemon, grapefruit and tangerine with the palate offering very light flavors but crisp acidity and a balanced mouthfeel that is the perfect complement to oysters on the half shell. (10/08 CH)

Griffins Crossing
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Horse Heaven Hills
$16.00

The fruit for this flavorful Sauvignon Blanc was harvested from the Destiny Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. Look for zesty aromas of green apple, pear and herbs with hints of toasty oak. The palate is lean and crisp favoring apple and mineral flavors with a finish of vanilla and light oak. Good with oysters, great with mussels! (10/08 CH)

Snoqualmie Vineyards
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Columbia Valley
$9.00

Some online wine pundits criticize this wine as being simple and light.  While they are wrong about “simple,” the wine is light – a delicious pairing with half shell oysters.  Aromas of lemon, lime and baking spice lead to a crisp palate of citrus and melon – a lip smacking choice with Kumamotos. (10/08 CH)

Waterbrook
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Columbia Valley
$12.00

Aromas of grassy herbs, citrus and hints of toasty oak intrigue the taster into slurping an oyster, then enjoying the flavors of light tropical fruits, citrus and melon as the wine refreshes the palate for another slurp! (10/08 CH)

 

Gewürztraminer

No recent reviews

Semillon

Amavi
2006 Semillon
Columbia Valley
$20.00

Another blockbuster mussel wine from a Walla Walla producer!  Look for aromas of melon, pear, citrus and herb leading to a creamy palate of pear and mineral with notes of anise and citrus and bracing acidity.  (10/08 CH)

L’Ecole No 41
2006 Semillon
Columbia Valley
$15.00

Winemaker Marty Clubb blends 14% Sauvignon Blanc into this delicious Semillon, making a very tasty and versatile food wine.  Barrel fermented and aged sur lie, the wine offers aromas of rich citrus and creamy pear and tropical notes.  The palate is rich with mineral, peach and citrus flavors wrapped in the creamy texture from full malolactic fermentation.  A killer mussel wine!  (10/08 CH)

Viognier

Bergevin Lane Vineyards
2007 Viognier
Columbia Valley
$25.00

This tasty, barrel-fermented Viognier comes around to the tropical side of the varietal. It is blended with 8% Roussanne.  Look for aromas of mango, ripe Asian pear, honey and mineral.  The palate has nice balancing acidity behind flavors of melon, pear, citrus and vanilla.  Great with herbed chicken or fish. (10/08 CH)

Desert Wind Winery
2007 Bare Naked Viognier
$15.00

Desert Wind Winery in Prosser recently opened their visitor facility with overnight rooms and plenty of space to accommodate weddings, dinners, and other events. Their Bare Naked Viognier has no oak aging, instead, offering aromas of ripe white peach, Asian pear, baking spice and notes of earthy melon.  The palate is crisp and medium bodied, providing an excellent foil for light meats and appetizers. (10/08 CH)

Chateau Ste. Michelle
2007 Viognier, Limited Release
$20.00

This wine is a very nice combination of complexity and finesse. Aromas of pear, lavender and mineral, mingle with other floral notes and hints of citrus.  The palate offers ripe pear flavors with complementing vanilla, mineral and citrus.  The structure on the palate is impeccable, and the wine is superb with seafood and other lighter cuisine. (10/08 CH)

Kestrel Vintners
2007 Estate Viognier
Yakima Valley
$20.00

The fruit for this wine came from the venerable Kestrel Estate Vineyard, one of the oldest in the Yakima Valley.  Bright aromas of white peach, pear, vanilla and citrus lead to a rich, peachy palate with tangy notes of mineral and grapefruit.  Another superb food wine. 
(10/08 CH)

Devitt Winery
2007 Viognier
Applegate Valley Oregon
$20.00

This wine hails from Southern Oregon's Applegate Valley, a scenic vale south of Grant's Pass.  Devitt's 2007 Viognier offers aromas of pear and peach with hints of citrus and vanilla and a floral note in the background.  White peach and apricots are the main flavors on the medium-bodied palate.  Very tasty with shellfish and lighter finfish. (10/08 CH)

DiStefano
2007 Viognier
Columbia Valley
$22.00

Winemaker Hillary Sjolund crafted this ripe and intense Viognier that can hold its own with a great variety of foods. The nose offers a bouquet of spicy pear, citrus, honey and vanilla, while on the palate, rich flavors of ripe Asian pear and citrus mingle with a full-bodied mouthfeel. (10/08 CH)

Spangler Vineyards
2007 Viognier
Oregon
$18.00

Pat Spangler's flavorful Viognier has a refreshing light alcohol content of just over 13 percent which makes it a very versatile food wine.  Pear and vanilla highlight the olfactories of this wine with floral and mineral notes adding to the complexity. Light- to medium-bodied on the palate, look for flavors of white peach and citrus.  A terrific accompaniment to all types of Northwest seafood. (10/08 CH)

Troon Vineyard
2007 Viognier
Applegate Valley Oregon
$22.00

Southern Oregon has really gotten behind the Viognier varietal including this excellent bottling from Troon Vineyard.  Intense aromas of mineral and citrus mingle with notes of pear and vanilla. The palate is medium bodied with flavors of spicy Asian pear leading to a crisp finish of citrus and mineral.  A great oyster wine for those seeking half-shell heaven.
(10/08 CH)

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Copyright © 2003 - 2008 Susan R. O'Hara.    All rights reserved.
Last revised:  10/13/2008