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The Canoe Ridge Expedition Chardonnay 2022 is 10.49 at Costco (.49 indicates a Costco special deal), it sells for between $15 and $19 elsewhere. This Chardonnay is sourced from the Canoe Ridge Vineyard (75%) and the Wallula Vineyard (25%) inside the Horse Heaven Hills AVA inside the Columbia Valley AVA in Washington.
Both Canoe Ridge and Horse Heaven Hills refer to history. Lewis and Clark when trekking through the Columbia Valley saw a ridge top that looked like an upside-down canoe, hence the name. The first settlers here found wild horses that had escaped from, the Spanish Conquistadors roaming the hills.
The Canoe Ridge Expedition Chardonnay 2022 is one of the brands from Precept Wine & Spirits the largest privately held Drinks company in the NorthWest.
The 2022 vintage was wet and cool, delaying the harvest, but the extra time on the vines gave the grapes excellent acidity and flavor.
The Canoe Ridge Expedition Chardonnay 2022 is 100% Chardonnay and was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The Canoe Ridge Expedition Chardonnay 2022 Tasting Notes
The color is a pale wheat beer yellow. The nose is melon, pickle juice, just a little, vanilla, green apple, Anjou pear, and a floral edge. The Canoe Ridge Expedition Chardonnay 2022 shows oak influence, this is a darker Chardonnay, in my mind, a great wine for a cool fall evening.
This Chardonnay tastes like apple, lemon, vanilla cream, peach, and oak spice. The mid-palate offers stone fruit, lime, and ripe pear.
The acidity is in the pocket. If you want to complement a winemaker from Burgundy you say their wine has great length and balanced acidity, that describes this one.
The Summary
- The Canoe Ridge Expedition Chardonnay 2022 tastes expensive, this is no bright and happy Chardonnay, it requires your attention.
- This is an oaked Chardonnay, but the oak tastes good and is not overdone.
- If you want to save $5 to $8 on a Chardonnay, head to Costco.
