Snoqualmie Chenin Blanc 2003
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A crisp off-dry wine that shows off a mouthful of ripe melon, pear and peach flavors that linger on and on in the finish. Fruitiness is balanced with bright acidity characteristic of Washington state fruit. A tasty sipping wine alone, or with a meal.
Snoqualmie has been producing classic varietal wines from Columbia Valley vineyards for over two decades. Snoqualmie's vineyards lie within three distinct growing regions of the Columbia Valley: Wahluke Slope, Yakima Valley and Horse Haven Hills. Each area produces grapes with flavors unique to the area, and Joy considers the individuality of each growing region one of her strongest winemaking tools.
Styled for easy drinking and as a complement to food, the Columbia Valley tier wines are as welcome on a picnic table as they are on a linen tablecloth.
Rosebud Vineyard, on the Wahluke Slope, one of the warmest areas in the state, was planted in 1981 and is one of the original vineyards for Snoqualmie wines. As of 1991 Snoqualmie has an exclusive contract with Rosebud Vineyards. It is the source for their single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
Snoqualmie's reserve wines are made a barrel at a time using artisan winemaking techniques. Quantities are extremely limited.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
A large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.