Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, USA

圣密夕酒莊霞多麗白葡萄酒

點擊次數：15923

For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes. Ste Michelle’s 2011 Chardonnay – for a few astonishing statistics about which see the introduction to my coverage of this winery – is overwhelmingly raised in barrel, but as Bertheau explains “we never push this wine through malo, so probably only 70% or 80% goes through” and, like raising a small share in tank, this approach enables Ste Michelle to balance richness and freshness. To my palate, there is a bit of disharmony between the vanilla icing and caramel character on display here and that of tart-edged apple skin and citrus oils. That said, there is abundant sheer juiciness and a polished, manifestly lees-enriched texture, and the last thing you could say about this is that it’s boring or fails to stimulate the palate. What’s more, you have to call it good value. I suspect it will be best enjoyed within a couple of years. (The most recent Indian Wells bottling I tasted, from 2010 and the Wahluke Slope, exhibits the enhanced expression of malo-lactic conversion and barrel exposure – one-thirds new and majority American oak – that are the winery’s intentions, but I found it less successful due to its bitterness and lack of primary juiciness.) Tel. (425) 488-1133

這款 Chardonnay 葡萄酒為釀酒師的精心之作，香氣尖銳辛辣，兼帶淡淡的果香。風味中帶有純正的蘋果和梨子的味道，還有一絲絲桃子的香氣。余味香滑，帶有乳脂味。評分：87。

這款 Chardonnay 葡萄酒釀造時在舊橡木桶中連同酒糟一起陳釀 。該酒清脆爽口，芳香馥郁，帶有多汁的蘋果核梨子風味，易于入口。余味中帶有柔和的香草和黃油的味道。評分：87。