WA Chards Give CA Some Competition

Filed in archive Northwestern US Wines on August 2, 2007

Washington is quickly becoming this quiet wine-producing powerhouse. It seems that so many wines coming out of the Pacific Northwest are of such high quality that they're giving California a run for its money - especially when it comes to Chardonnay. Of course, the style of wines are different but the quality is there.

The Lansing State Journal has a few reccomendations:

2004 Columbia Crest Grand Estates chardonnay. $12.99.

We smelled lemon, herbs, lavender soap and woodsy spices in the aroma. In the mouth, we tasted plantain, tropical fruit, creamy vanilla and light oak with low acids. This was our favorite wine in the tasting, a classic chardonnay from a consistent producer. Not overly complex, it was still pleasant to drink.

2005 Gordon Brothers Columbia Valley chardonnay. $12.99.

The nose reminded us of golden apples, tropical fruit and coconut. On the palate, we found papaya, banana, apple and butter flavors, along with mouthwatering acids. This wine was like a lighter, cleaner version of the Columbia Crest. It was voted our second favorite, but there really was only a matter of style preference - not quality level - that differentiated the two.

2005 Kiona Washington chardonnay. $10.99.

breakfast cereal scents emerged from the glass - honey, wheat, cinnamon and apple. On the palate, we thought of honey straight from the jar plus apple peel and clove, with a nut finish. This wine had an unexpected fizzy effervescence but was not particularly flavorful.

2004 Stonecap Winery Columbia Valley chardonnay. $10.99.

This wine had vegetable aromas - especially Brussels sprouts - and plantains. The flavors on the tongue were savory, with notes of canned asparagus and banana. This wine was not exactly unpleasant, but the flavors were not what we were looking for in a chardonnay.