House Wine 2011 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $10
Best Buy! Chardonnay is the No. 1 wine grape in Washington, though that doesn’t always mean it’s great. Well, this is an exception. This Precept Wine label originally created by the indomitable Charles Smith of Walla Walla is known for its great prices. But this also delivers in the glass as one of the best Chardonnays we’ve tasted recently. It opens with aromas of citrus, pear, mango and clarified butter, followed by flavors of rich butterscotch, nectarine and pineapple, all with just a whisper of oak mingling in the background.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 2,500 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
I like the label on the Mercer Chard a lot!