Chardonnay plays an important role in Washington

Pomum Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $26

Oasis Farms north of Prosser, one of the Yakima Valley’s most important vineyard sources, provides Woodinville’s Javier Alfonso with the ingredients for this beautiful Chardonnay that he offers as a tribute to Burgundy. He chose a time frame of 11 months in 228-liter French oak barriques (20% new) for fermentation and lees contact that creates aromas of dried apricot, Bosc pear and candy corn that lead to enjoyable flavors of cantaloupe and lemon chiffon. There’s a bit of creaminess in the midpalate joined by a pleasing nibble of pear skin that’s capped by lemon zest.

Rating: Recommended

Production: 174 cases

Alcohol: 13%

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