WASHINGTON
CHARDONNAY
93 Sixto 2016 Roza Hills Chardonnay (Washington). This wine comes from vines planted in 1977 at 1,350 above sea level—high by the state’s standards. Half fermented in concrete with the rest in oak barrel before being aged in puncheons, aromas of toast, pineapple, lanolin, cream and spice lead to a full-bodied palate, with textured tropical-fruit flavors. It’s a tasty, full-bodied, rich, very stylistic offering of the variety that need some time in the cellar. Best after 2023. Cellar Selection. —S.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $55
92 Co Dinn 2016 Roskamp Vineyard Chardonnay (Snipes Mountain). This wine is a blend of clones 76 and 96 at Roskamp. Appealing aromas of peach, honeycomb, pineapple, lees and lemon curd lead to a creamy, palate-coating mouthfeel, redolent with stone-fruit flavors. A lingering finish caps it off. It’s a Chardonnay prototype, made in a fuller style. Editors’ Choice. —S.S.
abv: 14.4% Price: $45
89 Eight Bells 2018 Boushey Vineyard Chardonnay (Yakima Valley). Partially barrel fermented, the aromas offer notes of melon and herb. Full-bodied flavors follow. It’s a very pretty, very pure interpretation of the variety, with the oak seemingly pulled way back. —S.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $28
This wine comes from a dry-farmed vineyard—an extreme rarity in the state. It shows a a lot of toasted grapenut aromas and flavors out of the gate. Notes of green apple and star fruit follow. Mouthwatering
