For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes. Ste Michelle’s 2011 Chardonnay – for a few astonishing statistics about which see the introduction to my coverage of this winery – is overwhelmingly raised in barrel, but as Bertheau explains “we never push this wine through malo, so probably only 70% or 80% goes through” and, like raising a small share in tank, this approach enables Ste Michelle to balance richness and freshness. To my palate, there is a bit of disharmony between the vanilla icing and caramel character on display here and that of tart-edged apple skin and citrus oils. That said, there is abundant sheer juiciness and a polished, manifestly lees-enriched texture, and the last thing you could say about this is that it’s boring or fails to stimulate the palate. What’s more, you have to call it good value. I suspect it will be best enjoyed within a couple of years. (The most recent Indian Wells bottling I tasted, from 2010 and the Wahluke Slope, exhibits the enhanced expression of malo-lactic conversion and barrel exposure – one-thirds new and majority American oak – that are the winery’s intentions, but I found it less successful due to its bitterness and lack of primary juiciness.) Tel. (425) 488-1133

這款 Chardonnay 葡萄酒為釀酒師的精心之作，香氣尖銳辛辣，兼帶淡淡的果香。風味中帶有純正的蘋果和梨子的味道，還有一絲絲桃子的香氣。余味香滑，帶有乳脂味。評分：87。

這款 Chardonnay 葡萄酒釀造時在舊橡木桶中連同酒糟一起陳釀 。該酒清脆爽口，芳香馥郁，帶有多汁的蘋果核梨子風味，易于入口。余味中帶有柔和的香草和黃油的味道。評分：87。