• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact us
  • Wine of the Week newsletter
  • Wine submission guidelines
Great Northwest Wine

Great Northwest Wine

News, reviews and info about the wines of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho

  • Home
  • Subscribe to GNWW The Magazine
  • Explore
    • Wine news
    • Grapes and viticulture
    • Washington wine
    • Oregon wine
    • Idaho wine
    • British Columbia wine
    • Product reviews
    • Recipes
    • Podcast
  • Reviews
    • Latest wine reviews
    • Wine of the Week
    • Best Buys
    • Washington wines
    • Oregon wines
    • Idaho wines
    • British Columbia wines
  • Events calendar
    • Submit an event
  • Competitions
    • Cascadia International Wine Competition
    • Idaho Wine & Cider Competition
    • “The Invite” – Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition
    • Platinum Awards
    • Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition
    • Washington State Wine Competition
  • About us
    • Awards and honors
    • Advertising on Great Northwest Wine
    • Wine submission guidelines
  • e-edition

Ste. Chapelle 2017 Special Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $12

July 7, 2019 by Great Northwest Wine 2 Comments

Best Buy! Growers and winemakers in the Snake River Valley of Idaho persevered during the 2017 vintage in the aftermath of the January killing freeze, which exacted a heavy toll. Riesling blocks in the Symms plantings near Ste. Chapelle also felt the sting, so production of this popular came in less than half of the 2016 vintage, but Boise native Meredith Smith brought this home in line with the “sweet” range of the International Riesling Foundation’s Taste Profile Scale. That’s around 7 percent residual sugar. Idaho’s natural acidity provides plenty of balance to the aromas and flavors of spearmint, Uncola and jasmine, leading to a rather pleasing off-dry finish of peach and apricot. Suggested pairings include carrot cake, angel food cake, fresh fruit and spicy fare.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 3,032 cases

Alcohol: 12.5%

Winery website

Subscribe to our Wine of the Week newsletter

Filed Under: Best Buy, Idaho, Latest wine reviews

About Great Northwest Wine

Articles credited to Great Northwest Wine are authored by Eric Degerman and other contributors. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda Lou Palmiter says

    February 19, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    We lived in Idaho from 1981 to 1990 we were at Mountain Home Air Force Base, we liked the special harvest wine I can’t remember the name, it was a sweet wine and we really liked it, I have never seen any since we left there, could you suggest a good sweet wine for us?

    Reply
    • Eric Degerman says

      February 19, 2022 at 7:53 pm

      Greetings, Linda Lou.
      Ste. Chapelle still produces that wine, and some of those wines made by my friend Meredith Smith enjoy national distribution. My point is that you might be able to find a recent vintage depending upon where you live.
      https://stechapelle.orderport.net/wines/product-search
      Another stellar wine made in a similar style is the Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling. It’s unclear to me if they are bottling an example from the 2021 vintage, but the 2020 will be deliciously sweet yet balanced.
      https://www.wine.com/product/chateau-ste-michelle-harvest-select-sweet-riesling-2020/757186?state=CA&s=GoogleBase_CSE_757186_PS106__type_Wine_WhiteWine_Riesling&showpromo=true&promo=PS106&region_id=000009&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Smart_Wine&gclid=CjwKCAiAx8KQBhAGEiwAD3EiP_6yr0y3NuzRAfQ_VAJYgfllbD1D624qobsy5LsSoqpvxINBlWsMtRoCGSAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#
      There’s also the Eroica Gold program.
      https://www.ste-michelle.com/chateau-ste-michelle/wine-shop/eroica/2019-eroica-gold-riesling/5637254083.p
      Cheers,
      Eric

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Wine of the Week

Maryhill Winery 2019 Proprietor’s Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley $44

April 4, 2023

Latest Wine Reviews

Tinte Cellars 2020 Malbec, White Bluffs $52

Blooms Winery on Whidbey Island 2016 Malbec, Washington State $32

Page Cellars 2019 Malbec, Columbia Valley $47

Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Malbec, Snake River Valley $20

Harbinger Winery 2017 Malbec, Wahluke Slope $30

Five Star Cellars 2017 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley $40

Wine Cruises & Safaris

Elk Cove Vineyards rafting trip in Idaho

Rhône River winemaker cruise with Passing Time, Doubleback and Avennia

Wine Safari to South Africa with Kerry Shiels of Cote Bonneville

Rob Griffin of Barnard Griffin is famous for his rosé of Sangiovese.

Rhône River wine cruise with Barnard Griffin Winery

Footer

Grapes

Savvy suggestions for Sauvignon Blanc from Walla Walla somm Kaleigh Brook

Malbec in Northwest continues to build on its elevated stature

From Argentina to Washington with Malbec for Juan Muñoz-Oca

Match Maker sidebar: King Estate Winery 2015 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $86

Match Maker sidebar: King Estate Winery 2019 Steiner Block Estate Biodynamic Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $28

Food

Match Maker: King Estate Winery rising stars combine for elevated restaurant experience

Match Maker recipe: Corn Agnolotti with Chanterelle Mushroom, Roasted Corn, Black Truffle and Citrus Brown Butter

Match Maker recipe: Beef Ribeye with Uni Butter, Pacific Dulse and Lobster Glace

Match Maker: Thiessen puts his brand on WW with Walla Walla Steak Co.

Match Maker recipe: Chocolate Crémeux Tart with Cocoa Nibs and Hazelnuts

History

Swirl, Sniff & Sip: Bottle conditioning creates wines worth waiting for

The Wine Knows: Wine-related Movies with Industry Intrigue

Mount Pisgah in Polk County rises as Oregon wine industry’s 23rd AVA

Hester Creek Estate Winery: 2023 British Columbia Winery of the Year

Ray’s Boathouse toasts 50 years with Ste. Michelle via historic tasting

© 2023 Great NW Wine. All Rights Reserved.