A rising star in Walla Walla, Valdemar offers a wide array of wines. It is part of the Valdemar wine family based in Rioja. The Walla Walla roster focuses on Rhônes but the owners also work with numerous established Columbia Valley sources. In addition to single vineyard bottlings of Chardonnay, it offers this Columbia wine blended from Gamache Vineyard and French Creek Vineyard. The finished wine contains 7% Roussanne from Gamache and was aged in French oak, 25% new. The style is crisp and Chablis-like which was unexpected for the appellation. Lemon and green apple fruit dominate the aroma with chalky and mineral emerging as secondary notes. It is smooth and medium bodied with lots of citrus and flinty, mineral flavors. Finishes with brisk acidity.
Valdemar Estates, Columbia Valley (Washington) Chardonnay 2020
By Norm Roby