The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 is a brand in winemakers Charles Smith’s House of Smith family of Washington State wines. Those wines span from fairly expensive 100-point wines to value-priced wines. The CH Chardonnay lists for $17, but I found it for $12.99.
The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 was sourced from three vineyards, 70% Frenchmen Hills Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA, 27% Roza Hills Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, and 3% Moxee Vineyard (52 years old) in the general Columbia Valley AVA.
I used to wonder why a winery would bother putting 3% of this or that into their wine, can 3% make that much of a difference? The answer is yes, everything you do to a wine affects the outcome. That three percent gave this Chardonnay just what the winemakers wanted the wine to have.
Cheapwinefinder has already reviewed the Substance SB Sauvignon Blanc and the Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon and was very impressed. Checking out the Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 was a must. We are wine fans, not wine critics.
The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 is sourced from 3 carefully selected vineyards, the soil composition of the vineyards was extremely important. Native yeast was used for fermentation rather than commercial yeast. Native yeast naturally is carried on the winds in the vineyard and attaches itself to the skin of the grape. It is thought that natural yeast is a better match for grapes.
The 2020 vintage in Columbia Valley is thought to be the best vintage ever, keep that in mind when buying Washington wine, choose the 2020 vintage when possible. This Chardonnay received 93 points from James Suckling the leading wine writer in America.
The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 aged for ten months in French oak barriques, 25% new barrels. A barrique barrel is the size used for Bordeaux wines and is the size you typically associate with wine barrels, though they come in all sizes. This Chardonnay was aged on-lees indicating the dead yeast and grape residue were left in the barrel. The technical notes did not mention malolactic fermentation. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 Tasting Notes
The color is pale wheat yellow with a hint of gold. The nose is a mix of lemon, melon, and green apple, with a hint of honey, Anjou pear, peach, toasted vanilla, and lightly floral. The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 is a lean, balanced Chardonnay with plenty of subtle flavors and excellent acidity.
This Chardonnay tastes like creamy vanilla, tart apple, grapefruit, lime, soft spice, and nectarine. The mid-palate brings that nutty/salty on-lees thing but in the background, custard, guava, and dried pineapple.
The acidity is very well-balanced, the flavors have plenty of time to unfold and it sets up your palate for the next sip.
The Summary
- The Substance CH Chardonnay 2020 is an excellent wine, not simply good for the price.
- If you are looking for a go-to Chardonnay this Fall and Holiday season you need to check this wine out!
