Canoe Ridge Columbia Valley Chardonnay 750 ML

Supple, nicely balanced, but less meaty and full than the Merlot. The tannins are very well managed, and surprisingly smooth. Not satiny, given the wind beating that the vines take in the Horse Heaven Hills, but polished and ripe. Flavors of black olives and green tea come in behind the blackberry and cassis. Producer Information Canoe Ridge Vineyard is a producer in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington State. It focuses primarily on Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are several key ranges of wine including the Expedition, the Reserve, the Explorer as well as other library wines. Predominantly French oak is used but occasionally American and Hungarian oak are also used. On average, around 70,000 cases of wine are produced each year. The history of Canoe Ridge began in 1989 when a group of Washington farmers planted Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon across 44 acres. In 1990, Canoe Ridge formed a partnership with the Chalone Wine Group of Napa, which resulted in further expansion. The new winery was built in a converted engine house in Walla Walla and opened in 1994. Horse Heaven Hills gained recognition as an official AVA in 2005. Six years later, the winery was bought by Precept Wine, and has remained in their ownership ever since. The vineyard celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014.