Bookwalter Readers Chardonnay 2021 Columbia Valley Washington 80% Chardonnay & 20% Viognier; 100% Columbia Valley AVA 100% Gamache Vineyard

Medium straw hues with a touch of gold tones. Supple with hints of lemon zest and apricot; Rich mouthwatering feel with fresh lingering acidity .

With an unpredictable weather pattern, winemakers were grateful to get all the fruit off the vines. A heavy snow in April resulted in bud break. With everything tracking two weeks behind schedule, we were saved by a gorgeous October that provided sunny days and warmer temps, allowing the fruit to ripen. 2022 fruit is highly concentrated, and produced clusters larger than the state average. Harvested on October 15th, our Chardonnay and Viognier were machine picked early in the morning to keep them crisp and fresh. The fruit was gently pressed under reductive conditions, and the juice was carefully monitored for changes in taste and color. The early and late press portions were combined into one cuvée. After cool fermentation together in stainless steel, the wine was aged on lees and not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation to preserve acidity.

PAIRING RECOMMENDATION: Marinated Kosho tomatoes topped with grilled steelhead, accompanied by an arugula salad tossed in lemon vinaigrette and garnished with pine nuts.