2008 Sineann Merlot Champoux Vineyard |
| Vintage | 2008 |  | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Sineann (web) | ||
| Variety | Merlot | ||
| Designation | n/a | ||
| Vineyard | Champoux Vineyard | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | Washington | ||
| SubRegion | Columbia Valley | ||
| Appellation | Horse Heaven Hills |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2016 (based on 22 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 89 pts. in 11 notes) | |
| Tasted by kvls08@gmail.com on 4/22/2024 & rated 90 points: Classic Champoux Merlot from Peter. Fills the palate with dark rich notes, super well rounded and smooth. Drink what you have left in the next couple of years for full enjoyment. (38 views) | |
| Tasted by SeattlePaul on 12/21/2022 & rated 90 points: In quite good shape, as all Peter's wines under glass stopper usually are. Vibrant dark fruit with some slight astringent notes. Good acid balance and a bit of menthol on the finish. (609 views) | |
| Tasted by Floyd77 on 2/16/2014 & rated 87 points: vibrant and fruit-forward, but one-dimensional and hot -- too much alcohol. I had the 2007 several years ago and it was a much better wine. (1213 views) | |
| Tasted by wdlohr on 1/13/2013 & rated 88 points: This is a big 15% ABV wine with dense plush dark aromas with strong powder. It is a bit heavy but features integrated tannin and overall is tasty. One dimensional. (1408 views) | |
| Tasted by wdlohr on 7/5/2012 & rated 91 points: This is a smooth wine with velvet, balanced full fruit, with a long luscious ending in balance. (1635 views) | |
| Tasted by philastem on 4/12/2012 & rated 90 points: pop n pour, not long out of chiller, while making dinner - decided to wait a bit since it seemed closed; later it was gave impression of fullness (great fruit to Sineann standard), with backbone, but didn't seem fully integrated. Still, very enjoyable with Tri-tip and Asparagus. I'm thinking a few years at least until the next bottle (2 left) as I liked it, but not sure it's there yet. (1777 views) | |
| Tasted by cbadie on 12/25/2011 & rated 87 points: Not only well bodied but a bit fruity as well. Very nice! (1575 views) | |
| Tasted by brouigu1 on 7/26/2011 & rated 87 points: Nice Merlot but not as good as when I was tasting this in the barn at the winery. Perhaps I needed the barnyard influences to enjoy this even more. The dark fruits were there but hiding still. Nice oak integration and hints of herb or floral were detected on the finish… (1169 views) | |
| Tasted by manonthemoon on 9/12/2010 & rated 88 points: Notes from day 2. Dark purple ink in color. Nose of red raspberry, a little vanilla, and some cocoa. Palate of red raspberry, sweetened cranberry, a little cocoa dust, pepper and tannin. The finish is average in length and the mouth feel is okay, not as good as the 07. More fruit than the 07 and possibly less complex. Hold. 50+5+11+15+7 (931 views) | |
| Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 8/31/2010: Bottled under glass cap. Nice. Dark, dense, and really good WA Merlot. A touch of herb underlying its rather weighty, richly styled character. With some tension and clip on the back of the palate. Structured Merlot. A toughy at $39, but there it is. (1050 views) |
| CellarTracker Wiki Articles |
SineannProducer WebsiteMerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.Champoux VineyardAbout Vineyard (Wikipedia)USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.WashingtonWashington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this articleWashington Wine Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries. Wineries With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds. Growers Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions. Regions As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources. Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries. Varieties Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide. History & Vintages Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world. State Facts Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies. Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry. Vintages "2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon Rimmerman Columbia ValleyColumbia Cascade Winery AssociationThe Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters. Horse Heaven HillsAbout AVA (Wikipedia) |