Columbia Valley Chateau Ste Michelle 1988
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Delivery: We ship orders every weekday.
Delivery time and price:
- Denmark: 1-2 days (39-49 DKK)
- Sweden: 2-3 days (150 SEK)
- Finland: 2-3 days (15 EUR)
- Germany: 2-3 days (15 EUR)
- Netherlands: 2-4 days (15 EUR)
- Generally for EU countries: 2-5 days (15-25 EUR)
NOTE: There may be 1-2 days longer delivery time in remote areas.
Returns: You always have a 30-day right of return.
NOTE : All orders from November 15th to December 24th can be returned until January 31st.
Columbia Valley Chateau Ste Michelle 1988
This 1988 white wine is produced by Chateau Ste Michelle in Washington State, the second-largest wine-producing state in the United States. The wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay, one of the world's most recognized green grapes, which is frequently cultivated in prominent wine regions such as Burgundy, Champagne, California, and Oregon.
The grapes were sourced from the Columbia Valley, the dominant American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Washington State, which gained its official status in 1984. Covering over 11 million acres, this vast basin lies east of the Cascade Mountains and contains 99 percent of the state's vineyards. The area is characterized by a semi-arid continental climate, receiving only 150 to 250 millimeters of annual rainfall due to the rain shadow effect of the mountains. This dry environment necessitates irrigation from the Columbia River and its tributaries. Situated at approximately 46 degrees north latitude, the vineyards benefit from long daylight hours during the growing season and significant diurnal temperature shifts between warm days and cool nights. The local soils consist primarily of wind-blown loess over basaltic bedrock, enriched with slackwater sediments from the Ice Age Missoula floods.
The Chardonnay grapes for this vintage were harvested throughout September and October of 1988, recording a harvest Brix of 22.5 degrees, a total acidity of 0.90 g/100 ml, and a pH of 3.33. Following the harvest, the wine was aged in French oak barrels. It was subsequently bottled in the spring of 1989 with an alcohol content of 13.0 percent by volume. At the time of bottling, the technical specifications included a residual sugar level of 0.12 percent, a total acidity of 0.83 g/100 ml, and a pH of 3.44.
The history of the wine
Below, you can delve into the history of this wine — its producer, grape, area, and region.
Washington State
Washington State lies in the north-western United States east of the Cascade Mountains and is the country's second-largest wine-producing state after California. The dominant Columbia Valley AVA covers over 11 million acres and contains 99 percent of the state's vineyards (around 60,000 acres planted) as well as 16 sub-AVAs, including Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain (warmest), Horse Heaven Hills, Lake Chelan, Ancient Lakes and Wahluke Slope.
The climate is semi-arid continental with only 150-200 mm of annual rainfall due to the Cascade Mountains rain shadow, making irrigation from the Columbia river necessary. The area lies at about 46° north latitude and therefore has long days during the growing season as well as large diurnal temperature swings between warm days and cool nights. The soils typically consist of loess over basaltic bedrock with slackwater sediments. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted grape, followed by Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Syrah. The style combines fruit-forward Californian character with European structure: the reds show ripe blackberry, cherry, plum, spices, cocoa and firm but rounded tannins, while the whites have fresh acidity with peach, citrus, apple and minerality. The area is known as a producer of structured Bordeaux varieties, spicy Syrah wines and quality-focused Riesling.
When this wine was made, the world looked very different. Here are some of the stories that unfolded while this bottle quietly aged in its cellar.
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Thorough quality check
Cork, capsule, fill level, label condition, and provenance are individually documented for each bottle. A physical certificate is included with every purchase.
60-day return policy
We are confident in the quality of our wines, and you as a buyer should be too. Return any unopened bottle within 60 days for a full refund — no questions asked.
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How it handles
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Storage
Store the bottle horizontally at 12–14°C and avoid direct sunlight, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations.
Opening
Allow the bottle to stand upright for 24–48 hours before opening to allow sediment to settle. Use a professional corkscrew and open carefully.
Enjoyment
Serve at 17–18°C and be patient – there is a great difference in how and how quickly wines open up when they are aerated.
GUIDE TO THE GOOD WINE EXPERIENCE
We will help you throughout the journey. Here you can read our guide on how to treat the wine. If you have any questions, you are always welcome to write or call us.
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