2006 Columbia Valley Chardonnay

$14.99 -- This 2006 bottling is a fresh, soft Chardonnay with appealing sweet citrus fruit character with subtle oak nuances.

Purchase 2006 Columbia Valley Chardonnay

Tasting Notes
“My goal vintage after vintage is to make the Columbia Valley Chardonnay a pleasurable, food-friendly Chardonnay. This 2006 bottling is a fresh, soft Chardonnay with appealing sweet citrus fruit character with subtle oak nuances. I work with vineyard lots from all over the Columbia Valley to make this a complex, interesting wine. This is a versatile food wine that can work with many foods including chicken, pork and white sauce pastas.” -Bob Bertheau, Winemaker

Vintage

2006 was a year of extremes in weather.
A cooler than normal, wet spring was followed by a very long, hot summer.
The weather was nearly ideal during the growing season. Summer fell into a consistent pattern of dry weather, warm days and cool nights.
Harvest began early, with some white grapes being picked in late August.
A cool spell in mid-September slowed things down and allowed more hang time for enhanced flavor development.

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.
A northerly latitude gives the Columbia Valley roughly two more hours of
sunlight daily during the peak-growing season than California, increasing
the region’s ability to ripen fruit.

Winemaking

The Columbia Valley blend is made from numerous vineyard lots resulting in a complex, layered, Chardonnay.
A prolonged fermentation of up to 2 months is followed by malolactic
fermentation for added richness and complexity.
The mostly Epernay II yeast imparts soft, fruit forward flavors in the
finished wine.
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.

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.7%
Total Acidity: 0.58g /100ml
pH: 3.43
Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Food Pairings

Foods: Crab, poultry, salmon, scallops
Herbs: Ginger, lemon zest, tarragon, thyme

Purchase 2006 Columbia Valley Chardonnay

Other products in the category Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine / White Wines:

2001 Domaine Ste. Michelle Luxe -- "Rich and toasty flavors of vanilla, citrus, ginger and nutmeg saturate the palate..."

2005 Columbia Valley Semillon -- This wine delivers aromas and flavors of fig, ripe melon with a hint of spice.

2005 Ethos Chardonnay -- Aromas and flavors of green apple, lemon and toasted hazelnuts lead to a soft, elegant, restrained finish.

2005 Ethos Late Harvest Riesling -- A complex wine, the Ethos Late Harvest Riesling exudes aromas of honey, apricot and spice.

2006 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay -- This Chardonnay delivers fresh apple, ripe pear and spice aromas and flavors.

2006 Chenin Blanc Ice 375mL -- The wine is intensely rich and exudes ultra ripe melon aromas and flavors with a clean acidity.

2006 Cold Creek Riesling -- This 2006 Cold Creek Riesling offers a fruit-driven, ripe peach character, while maintaining a refined elegance.

2006 Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer -- This Gewürztraminer is nicely balanced between fruit and the grape’s natural crisp character, while still being lush. Try this rich wine with Thai food or any cuisine with a little “bite” to it.

2006 Columbia Valley Pinot Gris -- Our Pinot Gris offers fresh aromas and flavors of ripe honeydew melon and crisp green apple.

2006 Columbia Valley Riesling -- "...character of juicy peach, apricot, ripe pear, melon, with subtle mineral notes."

2006 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc -- "...flavors of lemongrass, apple and melon"

2006 Eroica Riesling Ice 375mL -- The Eroica White Riesling Ice Wine is an exotic, luscious, ultra ripe wine with concentrated aromas and flavors of apricot and honey.

2006 Ethos Late Harvest White Riesling 375ml -- The Ethos Late Harvest White Riesling is a complex, decadent wine with intense aromas of apricot, honey and jasmine spice.

2006 Horse Heaven Late Harvest Chenin Blanc
375mL -- The Late Harvest Chenin Blanc offers aromas and flavors of ripe melon and sweet lime. Think Key Lime pie in a glass!

2006 Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc

2006 Indian Wells Chardonnay -- "delivers pineapple, butterscotch, and vanilla aromas with notes of brown sugar"

2006 Indian Wells Riesling -- The 2006 Indian Wells Riesling exhibits fruit-driven aromas of juicy pineapple and mango.

2006 Muscat Canelli -- The Chateau Ste. Michelle Muscat Canelli is always very aromatic and floral with inviting aromas of ripe pear and ginger spice.

2007 Cabinet Riesling

2007 Columbia Valley Dry Riesling -- It offers brisk, Riesling character of white peach and mandarin oranges with a clean finish.

2007 Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer -- 87 pts. -Wine Enthusiast
"..bright, refreshing medium-dry wine with inviting aromas..."

2007 Columbia Valley Pinot Gris -- A touch of Viognier contributes texture and an attractive floral character.

2007 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc -- The wine offers fresh aromas and flavors of lemongrass, apple and melon. We add Semillon, which contributes an appealing fig character and a beautiful soft, rich quality to the wine.

2007 Horse Heaven Chenin Blanc -- The palate has refreshing fruit and natural crisp acidity along with an underlying richness that comes from the vine age.

2007 Muscat Canelli -- Its sweet and fruity flavors are balanced by its light, refreshing and elegant quality. This is what I call my “Mother’s Day Brunch” wine.

2007 Nellie's Garden Dry Rose

Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blanc -- "Bright acidity and effervescence cleanses the palate, while the delicate flavors compliment a wide array of dishes."

Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs -- "A delicate sparkler, with strawberry impressions..."

Domaine Ste. Michelle Cuvee Brut -- "Cuvée Brut pairs very well with Japanese cuisine.."

Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry -- 88pts.- Wine & Spirits
"...elegant on the palate, and bursts with flavors of pear, guava and kiwi."

Domaine Ste. Michelle Frizzante -- Gold Medal-2006 Indy International Wine Competition
"A creamy sparkling wine, with notes of apple, pear and candied apples,..."

2007 Eroica Riesling -- 90 points-The Wine Spectator
"...classic mineral and slate notes and lively, crisp acidity with juicy white peach aromas and flavors."