Best Buy! Doug Gore continues to oversee all of the winemaking at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, but the erstwhile Columbia Crest head winemaker wanted to get his hands back in the game so he created this program dedicated to the wonders of the Wahluke Slope. Despite the price, he’s made this in a reserve style, and the product of nine months in oak leads to aromas of buttered toast, apricot and lemon curd. There’s little disappointment on the palate, which comes with a midpalate that oozing with caramel, vanilla and apple pie, yet there’s a cleansing citrusy finish. Despite what critics say, there’s significant demand for buttery Chardonnay, which explains why Gore nearly tripled production over the 2011 vintage, a demand filled by Jones and Shaw vineyards.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 27,000 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
Leave a Reply