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The Starpointe Yakima Valley Chardonnay 2023 is a $7.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. This is a wine produced for Trader Joe’s by DNA Vineyards, who have, over the years, produced some of Trader Joe’s best wines.
The Story
DNA Vineyards is Dennis Patton (40 years experience) and Andrea Silverstein (25 years experience). They have been making private label wines for 15 years and own vineyards in Mendocino and the Russian River. If you are into Trader Joe’s wines, check out their website, they are responsible for many of my favorites.
Yakima Valley is the first AVA in the Northwest and makes almost 1/3 of the wine in Columbia Valley. There is an Upper and Lower Yakima Valley, plus four sub-AVA. Yakima Valley is located in the southern section of the Columbia Valley and tends to have the coolest temperature.
The region is surrounded by ancient volcanoes so the under soil is volcanic rock which helps with drainage and provides minerality to the wines.
The Starpointe Yakima Valley Chardonnay 2023 is unoaked so it should tilt toward tart citrus and fruit flavors. The alcohol content is 12.4% which is low for today’s Chardonnay wine and may be a direct result of the Valley’s cool weather.
Trader Joe’s has seen the Starpointe brand before, again by DNA vineyards. Then it was a Sauvignon Blanc blended with Semillon in the Bordeaux style.
The Starpointe Yakima Valley Chardonnay 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is an extremely pale butter yellow. When a Chardonnay has a pronounced yellow tint, that is often the result of barrel aging. The nose is crisp and clean, there is ripe peach and pear, Green apple, spice, melon, and tropical fruit. The Starpointe Yakima Valley Chardonnay 2023 is a nice juicy blend of fruit and citrus.
This Chardonnay tastes like lemon, exotic spice, juicy apple, peach, dried pineapple slices, Anjou pear; There is a hint of cream that could have come from stirring the “lees”, and nectarine.
The acidity is well-balanced, giving the flavors ample time to unfold.
The Summary
- The Starpointe Yakima Valley Chardonnay 2023 is a $7.99 Trader Joe’s wine that can compete with store brands selling for $15.
- While I prefer my Chardonnay to have some oak and malolactic, there is no denying this is a tasty Chardonnay.
