The Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 is sourced from various vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. This is a wine that you should find for around ten bucks; I purchased a bottle for $8.99 on sale. The Columbia Valley comprises the vast majority of Washington’s vineyards, and there are 11 different sub-AVAs inside the valley.
Chateau Ste Michelle and its labels produce half of the wine from the Columbia Valley. I have read that they produce over 19 million cases (12 bottles) a year, and 8 million of that is Reisling. When it comes to wine, they are the big dogs of the Washington wine industry. They have not been a family-owned winery since the middle 1990s when a tobacco company purchased them.
They are currently owned by an investment company but are being operated as an independent company. Chateau Ste. Michelle is essential to the Washington vineyard operators. They have extensive contracts with vineyards throughout the state. For Chateau Ste Michelle to produce the volume of wine they do year in and year out, they need a lot of quality grapes.
The Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 had a long growing season, a mild summer, followed by a cool fall allowed the grapes to reach their peak. This is a Chardonnay that is sourced from many vineyards from all over the Columbia Valley. A Taste of Colombia Valley Chardonnay.
This Chardonnay underwent Malolactic fermentation, and 43% was fermented in Stainless Steel tanks, with the rest in oak barrels. With the fermentation occurring in both stainless steel and oak, the aging also used both methods.
The 43% of the wine that fermented in stainless steel tanks was also aged in stainless steel. The 57% of this Chardonnay that barrel-fermented was then aged in a mix of neutral, new, and single-use barrels. The oak barrel portion was also aged “on-lees,” meaning the dead yeast was left in the barrel with the Chardonnay and stirred occasionally.
The Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 is a value-priced wine, but it was made to detailed and precise specifications. This Chard should have some nice complexity with a mix of Malolactic Chardonnay mixed with no Malolactic. Along with a mix of the wine aged in different containers with stainless and oak, each bringing something different to the wine.
The Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 may be inexpensive, but I do not expect it to taste inexpensive. Washington State wines typically show good balance and ripe fruit and citrus flavors, so on to the tasting portion. The alcohol content is a ripe 14%.
Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 Tasting Notes
The Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 is a medium-bodied Chardonnay with a bit of weight on the palate. The color is pale butter yellow. The nose is pretty, a little more citrus than fruit. There is lemon, melon, grapefruit, green apple, pear, peach, a little vanilla, a touch of spice, and a floral edge.
The mid-palate brings ripe apple, faint stone fruit, a slightly salty sensation, and dried pineapple. It tastes like lemon curd, vanilla creme, tart grapefruit, soft spice, a little butterscotch, and lime. The acidity is well-balanced; it allows the flavors to unfold but otherwise stays out of the way.
The Summary
- The Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2019 is a solid, well-made, great-tasting Chardonnay at a bargain price.
- It may be produced in huge quanities and sourced from many vineyards, but the winemaker did an outstand.ing job making their selctions
- This is a very good Chardonnay!
