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| Community Tasting Notes (average 90 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 22 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | Tasted by oakville72 on 8/19/2022 & rated 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. (249 views) | | Tasted by mkparker on 9/4/2021: na (321 views) | | Tasted by aerosol on 6/8/2016 & rated 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. (1889 views) | | Tasted by Bobc7had on 4/12/2016 & rated 92 points: loved it. rich. balanced. enjoy right now (1751 views) | | Tasted by Tannic Monster on 3/2/2016 & rated 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. (1816 views) | | Tasted by AndersonWoodinvilleWines on 4/27/2014 & rated 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. (3107 views) | | Tasted by jrockman on 8/20/2012 & rated 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. (4577 views) | | Tasted by mreinitz on 2/18/2012 & rated 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. (3346 views) | | Tasted by Kmehring on 12/30/2011 & rated 90 points: Great legs (3282 views) | | Tasted by esb on 12/21/2011: 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. (3487 views) | | Tasted by vegasoenophile on 8/12/2011 & rated 88 points: Tight nose, still young. Big acid and tannin on the palate. Good fruit, but needs more time to come together. (1782 views) | | Tasted by The13thGryphon on 7/22/2011 & rated 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. (1715 views) |
| Chateau Ste. Michelle Producer 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.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.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington 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 RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The 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.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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