Waterbrook Winery 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Two of Precept’s largest estate vineyards — Canyon Vineyard Ranch in the Yakima Valley and The Benches in the Horse Heaven Hills – contribute to this large-scale Chardonnay bottling by John Freeman. His program of 40 percent stainless steel fermentation, with the rest in 20 percent new American oak barrels, sets the table with aromas of dusty Gala apple, peach and lemon with barrel hints of toast, vanilla and butter. A rich entry of baked Brie and Honeycrisp apple leads to a complex finish of Lemonhead candy, spearmint, juniper berry and lemongrass, backed by plushness of butterscotch. Suggested pairings include roasted chicken, grilled seafood and pasta with a cream sauce.
Rating: Recommended
Production: 16,000 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
Leave a Reply