Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley (Washington) Chardonnay Unoaked 2011

($17): Chateau Ste. Michelle, one of the locomotives of the Washington State wine industry, produces a series of “limited release” wines. Wendy Stuckey, their talented white winemaker, made only about 2,500 bottles of this unoaked Chardonnay. Delivering a crisp green apple-like fruitiness, it has a refreshing austerity. Stuckey and her team show that you can make satisfying and distinctive wine with a reasonable level of alcohol–13%. It’s worth the search.
90 Michael Apstein Apr 30, 2013