By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: http://www.bartholomewwinery.com/
Aligoté is a variety that’s grown in Burgundy but is well off the radar for most vineyards in the New World. It can have similar expression or character of Chardonnay and overall is a very good grape. It’s primarily used in blending, however, I’d like to see more producers start bottling it as a single varietal like this one from Bartholomew Winery in Seattle.
Technical Data:
- Cooperage: 6 months in neutral French Oak – Sur lie
- Brix at harvest: 23
- TA: 0.59
- Vineyard: Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain
- Production: 44 cases
- Price: $19
Nose: Mellow aromas of catelope, honeydew melon, mango, flint and a hint of kiwi.
Taste: A very “chardonnayesque” kind of wine – maybe because I know it’s somewhat related to chardonnay but this wine has a beautiful white-burdundy quality to it. Good fruit, acid and overall body make this a very food-friendly wine that’s easy to sip on and would easily compliment a variety of foods.
