San Juan Vineyards

Tim Judkins and Yvonne Swanberg purchased an old schoolhouse on a 33-acre parcel in San Juan Island in 1996. With a prime south-facing, well-drained slope behind the schoolhouse, they began production of Madeline Angevine and Siegerrebe wines in 1999, eventually supplementing with grapes purchased from the Yakima and Columbia Valleys in Eastern Washington. San Juan Island is in Washington’s spectacular Puget Sound near Seattle where the cool, wet climate makes it difficult for more popular varietals such as Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen.

This supple, elegant Chardonnay is bright yellow gold with slow-moving legs, and has aromas of earth, tar, mineral, lemon, and toasted oak. On the palate, the wine has flavors of orange marmalade, key lime pie, lime zest, and tangerine, and a touch of the minerality suggested on the nose. The acid is refreshing, giving the sensation of biting into a perfectly ripe, organically grown pineapple. The wine is dry and understated, not at all buttery, and has a minty, slighty oaky finish. It would complement halibut with mushrooms, lemon roast chicken with jasmine rice, or a simple black forest ham and Gruyere on a baguette.

Reviewed March 24, 2008 by Catherine Fallis.