In good shape but at its peak. My tasting companion indicated it was too heavy on oak, but I found it well balanced and possessing the acidity so often lacking in eastern Washington reds. The 14.5% alcohol doesn't overpower the fruit. A good indication of what Chateau Ste. Michelle can produce when it chooses.
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OMG! I opened this last night and was met with a nose of alcohol with a slight hint of rose petals. We gave it a little time to open and this is a mouth full of deep, dark fruits, casis, and cocoa. Over time this wine is a pallate of pure chocolate with silky soft tannins, light acidity, and a soft, but short finish. I had this before but the slight aging was remarkable. Saved a glass for the 2nd night and the nose is pure fruit! It got better on the 2nd night and was a soft, elegant mouth full of wine. I wished I had more! BTW, this wine is right in the middle of its window of drink-ability so I strongly recommend you have a bottle now if it's in your cellar.
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Slight hints of black cherry and blackberry on the nose and palate. Tannins are completely soft. There is just a slight hint of smoke for the oak. I would have preferred a touch more acid to consume with food. It was otherwise soft and silky. Finish adequate but not great.
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I liked this more than I expected to. Rich black cherry fruit mixes with a strong vanilla oak component. At first the acid seemed a little weird and the wine tasted a little like a cherry pixie stick, but that resolved pretty quickly. After an hour in the decanter I thought that this was singing, with well integrated flavors. Medium acid and medium tannins, and plenty of fruit. A fairly long enjoyable finish. Got this for $19.95 on closeout, and I'm going to go back and buy a case tomorrow.
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Great vineyards. Black. One of the biggest wines I have tasted from WA but unfortunately also over oaked for my palate. In the mouth it was thick, dense, very bright, raw, and lightly tannic. Thank '08 for a perfect combination of ripeness and acidic snap. Overall the fruit was average, completely generalized already from overwhelming oak, showing typical chocolate, vanilla and deep plummy merlot character. I could not escape the vanilla, raw wood, thankfully not toasty, oak character which was always standing alone, never quite integrating. Obviously a cellar wine, but I'm not sure it will make good old bones. Same story next day but maybe more oak.
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More of an "old world" style Merlot, rather than a fruit bomb... Yet still has plenty of palate pleasing fruit flavor, with plumb and black cherry carrying the show. There is also a touch of leather on the nose and tongue. Smooth and elegant, with well balanced tannins and a lengthy finish. Very enjoyable wine that was well liked by all five people who imbibed.
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8/19/2022 - oakville72 Likes this wine: 91 Points
In good shape but at its peak. My tasting companion indicated it was too heavy on oak, but I found it well balanced and possessing the acidity so often lacking in eastern Washington reds. The 14.5% alcohol doesn't overpower the fruit. A good indication of what Chateau Ste. Michelle can produce when it chooses.
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9/4/2021 - mkparker wrote:
na
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6/8/2016 - aerosol Likes this wine: 95 Points
OMG! I opened this last night and was met with a nose of alcohol with a slight hint of rose petals. We gave it a little time to open and this is a mouth full of deep, dark fruits, casis, and cocoa. Over time this wine is a pallate of pure chocolate with silky soft tannins, light acidity, and a soft, but short finish. I had this before but the slight aging was remarkable. Saved a glass for the 2nd night and the nose is pure fruit! It got better on the 2nd night and was a soft, elegant mouth full of wine. I wished I had more! BTW, this wine is right in the middle of its window of drink-ability so I strongly recommend you have a bottle now if it's in your cellar.
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4/12/2016 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 92 Points
loved it. rich. balanced. enjoy right now
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3/2/2016 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 88 Points
Wet leaves and campfire on the nose. Soft and silky in the mouth.
prunes, grilled red meat, and cherry alcohol on the palate. Simple.
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4/27/2014 - AndersonWoodinvilleWines Likes this wine: 87 Points
Slight hints of black cherry and blackberry on the nose and palate. Tannins are completely soft. There is just a slight hint of smoke for the oak. I would have preferred a touch more acid to consume with food. It was otherwise soft and silky. Finish adequate but not great.
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8/20/2012 - jrockman wrote: 85 Points
Decanted 1 hour, w/ pasta in meat sauce; not a bad wine, but disappointing, was expecting more; nose decent, but not much on the palate, rather bland.
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2/18/2012 - mreinitz wrote: 91 Points
I liked this more than I expected to. Rich black cherry fruit mixes with a strong vanilla oak component. At first the acid seemed a little weird and the wine tasted a little like a cherry pixie stick, but that resolved pretty quickly. After an hour in the decanter I thought that this was singing, with well integrated flavors. Medium acid and medium tannins, and plenty of fruit. A fairly long enjoyable finish. Got this for $19.95 on closeout, and I'm going to go back and buy a case tomorrow.
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12/30/2011 - Kmehring wrote: 90 Points
Great legs
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12/21/2011 - esb wrote:
Great vineyards. Black. One of the biggest wines I have tasted from WA but unfortunately also over oaked for my palate. In the mouth it was thick, dense, very bright, raw, and lightly tannic. Thank '08 for a perfect combination of ripeness and acidic snap. Overall the fruit was average, completely generalized already from overwhelming oak, showing typical chocolate, vanilla and deep plummy merlot character. I could not escape the vanilla, raw wood, thankfully not toasty, oak character which was always standing alone, never quite integrating. Obviously a cellar wine, but I'm not sure it will make good old bones. Same story next day but maybe more oak.
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8/12/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 88 Points
Tight nose, still young. Big acid and tannin on the palate. Good fruit, but needs more time to come together.
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7/22/2011 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 92 Points
More of an "old world" style Merlot, rather than a fruit bomb... Yet still has plenty of palate pleasing fruit flavor, with plumb and black cherry carrying the show. There is also a touch of leather on the nose and tongue. Smooth and elegant, with well balanced tannins and a lengthy finish. Very enjoyable wine that was well liked by all five people who imbibed.
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