Mercer Canyons 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $13
Best Buy! Jessica Munnell pulls from vineyards in three distinct growing regions in Washington — historic Sagemoor along the Columbia River near the Hanford Reach, Zephyr Ridge at the southern edge of the Horse Heaven Hills and Sunnyside Vineyard in a warmer section of the Yakima Valley — for this remarkably complex Chardonnay. Aromas of peach, honeydew melon, dried pineapple, marzipan and alyssum lead to tasty flavors of Golden Delicious apple, dried apricot, pineapple and papaya. More than half of the lot underwent barrel fermentation and there’s some Viognier (4%), too, a combination which explains the lusciousness on the midpalate that carries into a finish of lingering sweet lemon.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 4,642 cases
Alcohol: 13.9%
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