2018 Baer Winery Shard
Stillwater Creek Vineyard,
Royal Slope,
Columbia Valley,
Washington
14.4% alcohol
Screwcap closure
432 cases produced
This Chardonnay was made exclusively with stainless steel so it did does not have any oak influence nor did it go through malolactic fermentation during the winemaking process. No hint of butter or cream in this bottle! Using three clones of Chardonnay; one from Champagne, another from Burgundy, and a third from Burgundy by way of California and then up to Washington, this wine is bright and minerally.
I really love this quote on their website
“… everything we are doing here at the winery is to preserve what we tasted in the vineyard. The goal is to respect the clean purity of fruit and not obscure the personality of the chardonnay with oak barrels or malolactic fermentation.”
Bouquet:
This Chardonnay is just filled with citrus and mineral notes! Tons of lemons and kaffir lime leaf aromas dance the tango with minerally fresh rain, wet cement, and sourdough bread hot out of the oven.
Palate:
Bright acidity leads into flavors of tart lemons and lemon curd, followed by ginger and ripe peaches. Since this wine is completely unoaked, you can really taste the fruit and better understand the terroir of Stillwater Creek Vineyard.
Food pairing suggestions:
Himalayan momos, pork chops with applesauce, Thai green curry with chicken & water chestnuts.
SRP $25
Follow these links to read more about the Royal Slope AVA and the wines made from there:
Royal Slope, Washington wine’s crowning jewel
Washington crowns the new Royal Slope AVA
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About the Author: Michele Francisco
