Mission Codename Buttered Apples
Rombauer fans rejoice! Here’s a FAT wine at a very SKINNY price. Tucked away in Eastern Washington State’s Columbia Valley and buried in a mountain of big reds comes this unexpectedly outstanding value of a Chardonnay. This juicy Chardonnay is a budget-priced crowd-pleaser that you’ll want to stock up on for Summer.
Winemaker Doug Gore is; “very proud of Seven Falls Cellars because it’s in an area that’s so near and dear to my heart, what I love best about the Wahluke slope fruit is the balance of flavors and aromas” and he is spot on with this example. With the few years of lying in the winery cellars, it’s at peak now and would be ideal to enjoy over this summer. Seven Falls was inspired by the 7 waterfalls that once flowed along the Columbia River through what is now the acclaimed Wahluke Slope, ideal for creating outspoken, true to varietal wines; bold enough to stand alone, yet elegant enough to pair well with many foods.
Deep gold, like a glimmering waterfall during a summer sunset. A classic Chardonnay nose, rich in unabashedly delicious golden apple and freshly popped corn. Bold and luscious on the seamless palate, with a creamy, ripe, stone fruit edge over baked-lemons, French toast, and spicy oak. Resonating, easy-to-love vanilla-cinnamon finish that’s uniquely nutty with a hint of roasted cashews. Pair this baby monster of a Chardonnay with a lavish dinner of herb-butter lobster tails, roasted potatoes and grilled corn on the cob.
The WA State Wine Commission best describes why the Wahluke Slope is fast building its reputation; “named after a Native American word for “watering place,” lies in south-central Washington. The area is geographically isolated, bordered by the Columbia River, Saddle Mountains, and Hanford Reach National Monument… Wahluke Slope wines tend to be ripe and full-bodied with pure varietal fruit flavors… The major distinguishing feature of the Wahluke Slope is its uniformity in aspect, soil type, and climate. The entire appellation lies on a broad, south-facing slope with a constant, gentle grade of less than 8%. This, along with the proximity to the Columbia River, helps minimize the risk of frost, which can affect other areas of the state… While most vineyards on the Wahluke Slope have been planted in the last 15 years, vineyards in this area have already created wines with high accolades. Of note, Wine Enthusiast awarded a 100-point rating to a wine from this region and Wine Spectator named a wine made from Wahluke Slope fruit its Wine of the Year in 2009.”
Here’s what the wine press has to say:
90 points - Wine Spectator - “Broad and supple, expressing a range of spice and citrus flavors, centering on pear and fig notes. Finishes with polish.”
What the Winery Says
2014 Wahluke Slope Chardonnay
- Winemaker
- Doug Gore
- Varietal
- Chardonnay
- Vintage
- 2014
- Appellation
- Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, WA
- Abv
- 14.2%
- pH
- 3.36
- TA
- .53g/100ml
- Vineyards
- Shaw, Jones, Wycoff
- Aging
- 9 months in 63% French
- ~
- 37% American oak