Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills Chardonnay Ultimate Wine Shop 2008

This Chardonnay from Washington is a terrific marriage of fruit and French oak with a bit of minerality. It is perfectly balanced between the old super oaky- buttery style and the crisp stainless steel tank versions of the last few years. On the nose, pear, apple and butter lead to a delicate taste of tropical fruit and baking spices with a creamy vanilla finish. Pair this wine with lobster bisque and crusty French bread.

Columbia Crest Chardonnay Grand Estates Columbia Valley 2008 750ML

Ripe and generous not heavy but heady with spice-accented pear honey and floral aromas and flavors echoing nicely. Drink now.

Aromas of apple, pear and caramelized sugar carry through to the palate, the refined flavors of this Chardonnay end in a lingering finish that gracefully balances the fruit, and slight notes of butter. - Ray Einberger, Winemaker

The 2008 Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills is a bit more serious. Forty percent was barrel-fermented in new oak, 30% in seasoned barrels with the balance in stainless steel. Like the Grand Estates, it was aged for 6–9 months sur lie with weekly batonnage. It gives up aromas of buttered popcorn, pear, spiced apple, and mineral leading to a smooth-textured, ripe Chardonnay with very good volume and concentration. This well-balanced, lengthy effort should drink well for 2–3 years.

H3 is Columbia Crest’s line of wines from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA — the winery’s home turf — and the wines seem to have a bit more cut and flair than the slightly less expensive Columbia Valley bottlings. Here you will find a more complex blend of fruits — starfruit, apple, melon and a hint of banana—and less focus on butter and toast. In other words, more of a food and sipping wine.

This Chardonnay from Washington is a terrific marriage of fruit and French oak with a bit of minerality. It is perfectly balanced between the old super oaky- buttery style and the crisp stainless steel tank versions of the last few years. On the nose pear apple and butter lead to a delicate taste of tropical fruit and baking spices with a creamy vanilla finish. Pair this wine with lobster bisque and crusty French bread.