2018 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Chardonnay
Stillwater Creek Vineyard,
Royal Slope,
Columbia Valley,
Washington
13.5% alcohol
Cork closure
1124 cases produced
Bouquet:
I smelled tart aromas of lemons and lemongrass, as well as minerally wet stone. Oak-imparted smells of vanilla and creme brûlée were prominent, along with, interestingly, lemon icing!
Palate:
This Chardonnay was barrel-fermented in 40% new and 60% used French oak barrels. With a nice, full mouthfeel, this wine was filled with citrusy lemons, lemon zest, and lemon curd. I also tasted spicy white ginger and creamy crème brûlée.
Even after barrel-aging and malolactic fermentation, winemaker Mike Januik retained nice acidity in the wine. The texture was really enhanced with the oak fermenting and aging, along with 10 months of sur lees skin contact before bottling. This Chardonnay is very versatile and food-friendly!
Food pairing suggestions:
Linguine pasta with chicken in a white wine sauce // garlic butter shrimp and quinoa // baked corn and crab cakes
SRP $23
Follow these links to read more about the Royal Slope AVA and the wines made from there:
Royal Slope, Washington wine’s crowning jewel
2017 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Syrah
2019 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Viognier
2016 Baer Winery Arctos Cabernet sauvignon
2019 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Sauvignon blanc
2018 Cairdeas Winery Concrete Syrah
Washington crowns the new Royal Slope AVA
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About the Author: Michele Francisco
