Reserve Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, seared scallops
✨ Technical Specifications
Columbia Crest's Reserve Chardonnay represents the pinnacle of the winery's white winemaking, showcasing the unique terroir of the Columbia Valley, particularly the wind-swept, sun-drenched vineyards of the Horse Heaven Hills. Historically, Washington State's dramatic diurnal temperature shifts allow Chardonnay grapes to develop rich, ripe tropical fruit flavors while retaining a vibrant, crisp acidity. This Reserve bottling is crafted using traditional Burgundian techniques, including barrel fermentation in French oak, extensive sur lie aging with regular stirring to build a creamy, luxurious texture, and malolactic fermentation. The result is a sophisticated, layered expression that balances rich buttery notes with bright, structured fruit, standing as a testament to the vision of Washington wine pioneers who proved the region could produce world-class white wines.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1983 in Paterson along the sun-drenched banks of the Columbia River, Columbia Crest has played a pivotal role in establishing Washington State as a premier world-class wine region. Situated in the heart of the Columbia Valley and Horse Heaven Hills, the estate benefits from ideal growing conditions characterized by warm diurnal shifts and well-draining soils. The winery focuses on precision viticulture and modern cellar craft to produce wines of remarkable consistency, depth, and accessibility. Columbia Crest is celebrated for its rich, structured Cabernet Sauvignon, plush Merlot, and vibrant Chardonnay, featured prominently across acclaimed ranges such as Grand Estates, H3, and the flagship Walter Clore Private Reserve.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14-14.5%