Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $11
Best Buy! Washington state’s largest wine company deserves its worldwide reputation for Riesling, but the triumvirate of Bob Bertheau, David Rosenthal and Wendy Stuckey has been overlooked for their stellar work with Sauvignon Blanc in recent years. And the 2014 vintage, Stuckey’s finale in Woodinville, stacks up with alongside their best, not only for the Horse Heaven Vineyard, but also with this equally remarkable Columbia Valley bottling. It offers diversity in the aromatics of tropical notes such as pineapple and Angel Food Cake, yet also notes of gooseberry, juniper berries with a whiff of tom cat. On the palate, it is brisk, bright and bone dry with melon and grapefruit flavors framed by tingly acidity. Bertheau reaches for this on occasions when the oysters get shucked, but friendly pairings also include rosemary chicken, halibut, garlic clams or other white meats influenced by fresh herbs such as basil or oregano. There should be no problem finding this at the grocery store, and the price point is tough to beat.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 219,376 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Laurie Brauss says
No list of Sauv Blancs is visible
I am viewing via tablet
Andy Perdue says
Laurie, there is a blue arrow near the top of the article that will take you to each page of the article.
Kt says
Great article. Thank you for focusing on this neglected grape.