This Washington chardonnay offered a pleasant surprise, primarily due to it tasting like a crisp Chablis. The Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Chardonnay Lake Chelan (14.5%) was a clear golden yellow in the glass, providing scents of pear and wet stone to the nose.

This steel fermented wine was sharp on the palate, but in a good way, for there are far too many Washington chardonnays that are cloying, viscous, and vanilla for my taste. I really liked the minerality and acidity in this wine, although the alcohol showed a bit of heat on the back of the throat. It also offered an intriguing nutty taste on the finish, which I enjoyed.

We paired this wine over several nights with different foods, including pasta and tomato sauce, a slow roasted pork dish, and chicken teriyaki. Over three nights, this wine held up well, without ever falling flat. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. At $17.50 direct from the winery, this is a wine worth experiencing. I would enjoy trying this wine again.

Related Links
A Visit to Lake Chelan
Wine Peeps Review
Benson Vineyards Estate Winery Site