Stillwater Creek Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, pan-seared halibut, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
JM Cellars' Stillwater Creek Vineyard Chardonnay is a beautiful expression of one of Washington State's most acclaimed cool-climate sites. Located on the Frenchman Hills in the Columbia Valley, Stillwater Creek Vineyard is renowned for its unique fractured basalt soils and northern exposure, which allow white wine grapes to ripen slowly while retaining brilliant natural acidity. This vineyard was a pioneer in Washington for planting premium French clones, which JM Cellars meticulously utilizes to craft a Chardonnay of exceptional depth. Fermented and aged in French oak barrels with regular lees stirring, this wine strikes a masterful balance between rich, creamy texture and vibrant, mineral-driven freshness, showcasing notes of crisp orchard fruit, toasted brioche, and citrus blossom.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1998 by John and Peggy Bigelow, JM Cellars is a benchmark family-owned artisanal winery centered at Bramble Bump, a wooded sanctuary in Woodinville, Washington. Initially mentored by prominent Washington vintners Mike Januik and Charlie Hoppes, the Bigelows evolved from basement garagistes into leading producers of small-lot, site-expressive Pacific Northwest wines. While production operations are based in Woodinville and Maltby, estate fruit originates from Margaret's Vineyard—a certified sustainable and Salmon-Safe site perched within Walla Walla's acclaimed SeVein development. Complementing their estate plantings, JM Cellars selectively sources from venerated Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Red Mountain vineyards, including Boushey, Stillwater Creek, and Quintessence. Winemaking under John and his son Tommy emphasizes precision and texture, utilizing small-batch fermentations in stainless steel, concrete eggs, and French oak barrels. Benchmark cuvées include their signature Tre Fanciulli red blend, Margaret's Vineyard Bordeaux varietals, and vineyard-designated Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, consistently distinguished by vibrant fruit purity and structured finesse.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay