St. Michelle Chardonnay
2005 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
Tasting Notes
“My goal is to make the Columbia Valley Chardonnay our pleasurable, food-friendly Chardonnay. The wine strikes the perfect balance of integrated fruit and oak. This is a soft, creamy Chardonnay with layered fruit characters of apricot, papaya and lemon zest accented by subtle oak nuances. I work with vineyard lots from all over the Columbia valley to make a complex, interesting Chardonnay. One of my mantras is “complexity through diversity”, and this wine personifies that. This is a versatile food wine that can work with many dishes including chicken, pork and white sauce pastas. It is truly the “I’ll have another glass of Chard” wine. “
Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker
Technical Data
Total acidity 0.57g/100ml
ph 3.54
Alcohol 13.8%
Blend 100% Chardonnay
Food Pairing
Foods crab, poultry, salmon, scallaps Herbs ginger, lemon zest, tarragon, thyme
Vintage
• The 2005 harvest tested our winemaker’s patience, but ultimately delivered excellent quality fruit.
• The growing season started cool, followed by 90+ degree days in July and August.
• September brought cool and constant weather, which extended the season, allowing grapes extra time to ripen on the vine and enhance flavor develop- ment.
Vineyards
• Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually.
• Sandy soils with low fertility and low water-holding capacity enable precise control of vine growth.
• Warm, sunny days and cool evenings create ideal conditions for aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes.
Winemaking
• The Columbia Valley blend is made from numerous vineyard lots resulting in a complex, layered, Chardonnay.
• Barrel fermented for six months in French and American oak (30% new). • 5% tank fermented Chardonnay was added to the blend to make a fresh, friendly style of Chardonnay.
• Sur lie aged for more than six months with regular stirring to soften the wine and integrate fruit and oak flavors.
Item #127 ©2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Vineyards & Wineries, Woodinville, WA 98072
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