External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.8 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 48 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by novocane on 2/16/2021 & rated 90 points: Nice.
A few of the previous notes mentioned this wine is getting to the end of its life. I think I bought this one from Costco in 2007 for around $10. Pleased to find the wine is drinking well and quite tasty.
Cork broke while opening, managed to fish out the bottom of the cork with a monopol.
Power decant and pour.
Blueberries and currants on the nose. Wine is a classic medium Garnet. Dark fruit. Tannins muted, but still present. Some sediment. Best on the second day.
Not bad for a $10 cab. (615 views) | | | Tasted by cobystilp on 10/3/2016 & rated 89 points: Taking on age. Some sediment. Time to enjoy. (2014 views) | | | Tasted by Bobc7had on 8/21/2016 & rated 87 points: starting to fade (2074 views) | | | Tasted by Rojo on 11/29/2015 & rated 87 points: This is my last bottle. Not as good as the previous bottle I had. While not bad, this one is really on the decline. Drink up now. (2547 views) | | | Tasted by cobystilp on 10/21/2015 & rated 89 points: Super silky tannins! Loads of vanilla. Great midweek QPR (2422 views) | | | Tasted by MonkeyBiz101 on 8/18/2015 & rated 92 points: Fantastic, but unfortunately my last. (2301 views) | | | Tasted by Rojo on 11/28/2013 & rated 91 points: Saturated purple color. Minty, tobacco leaf, vanilla, sweet currant and cheese rind. Velvety texture that comes initially sweet on the front end and followed by charred meat, cocoa powder, black fruits and some unresolved tannins. Focused structure and nice length. (2708 views) | | | Tasted by Barry Notes on 11/26/2013 & rated 90 points: PnP w/5 min decant and 30 min glass time. Clear, w/very minor sediment, deep dark purple color. No brick edge. Very nice and proper Cab nose. This wine shows much better than it's price point. Perfect drinking window. Great balance. Med body, bold Cab fruit, integrated, nice juicy finish w/soft tannins. I have always liked this producers for it's QPR. Nothing off. $21 (2579 views) | | | Tasted by cobystilp on 10/10/2013 & rated 90 points: Dark and syrupy. This is a very concentrated bottle. It has some complexity. Good QPR but wish it had more. I like the blueberry and vanilla undertones. Four more bottles to go. No rush here. (2325 views) | | | Tasted by peeno on 9/21/2013 & rated 90 points: Excellent value. Dark berries. Mild tannins. Medium finish. Smooth. Aromatic. Great wine. (2261 views) | | | Tasted by MonkeyBiz101 on 11/10/2012 & rated 90 points: Big full on cab, lot of dark fruit. A little too unsubtle for me, but particularly liked a hint of liquorice in the mix. (2901 views) | | | Tasted by LEXKYWINE on 3/18/2012 & rated 92 points: Sadly, I have but one bottle. Big lush Cab. The casis, cherries, chocolate and hint of spice grab you right off. Good fruit and grip on the palate. Wonderful mouth drying finish. I like it as a sipper but great with pasta, cheese & red sauce. (2575 views) | | | Tasted by tacvinolindo on 12/27/2011 & rated 90 points: Highly anticipated and it delivered. This was a delicious full bodied, deep ruby red Cab Sauv with medium tannins, hints of plum/prune, black cherry, blackberry and a faint after taste of anise. We decanted for 2 hours before drinking and I believe it really benefited from it. (3718 views) | | | Tasted by mmurnane on 10/6/2011 & rated 89 points: Great flavors! Highly recommend to pair with steak and anything grilled. (3715 views) | | | Tasted by Ken332 on 9/25/2011 & rated 89 points: Lovely wine. Double decanted about 3 hours before serving. Chilled to 65 degrees. Casis, blackberries, and plum in the nose and initial flavors, substantial tanins in the mid-range, astringent, but not bitter. Good finish. This wine will get better with age and should last for at least 10 years. (3725 views) | | | Tasted by The Wine Sherpa on 4/30/2011 & rated 87 points: Young wine still. Dark ruby. (3557 views) | | | Tasted by td7340 on 10/11/2010 & rated 86 points: Needs more time! Has potential and after a pop and pour it was very evident it needed more time and air. Decanted after the initial heat passed, let is sit for over an hour but was still tight and flavors ard mixed, tannins need to work longer in the bottle. I can see the potential, but if you dare try now be prepared that you short the progress in work. (4382 views) | | | Tasted by tbailey540 on 9/4/2010 & rated 87 points: needed more time.Dark fruits little out of balance (4548 views) | | | Tasted by cobystilp on 8/29/2010 & rated 91 points: Went way too fast. Silky smooth tannins. Like a velvet pillow. Heavy and dense. Drinking well already. (4533 views) | | | Tasted by ChrisinCowiche on 5/9/2010 & rated 90 points: Paired w/ Sineann Cold Creek Cab of same vintage.
The CSM is a deep garnet with a very black core, the edges are bright reddish purple. On the nose, the CSM is bursting with dark black fruit, blueberries, black cherry, licorice, and saddle leather.
The first taste of CSM is a rush of black cherry and cassis and (as copied from the bottle notes) has an excellent, terrific structure front to back. The tail of the wine is not too dry, not too sweet, not too tannic, right in that spot where you go, "hmmm". (5044 views) | | | Tasted by seattleguy on 12/25/2009 & rated 88 points: Nose: licorice, dark fruite
Tase: Very drinkable, balanced, integrated, but fruit restrained (5572 views) | | | Tasted by pgm on 11/23/2009 & rated 91 points: This is a big, serious wine. Young yet, but loaded with currant, black cherry, and black raspberry. Still on the restrained side, I think the will start to show off in a couple years. (5639 views) | | | Tasted by annerk on 11/7/2009 & rated 90 points: Cabernet Tasting With Andrea Robinson (Epcot): 50+5+12+16+7 Black cherry & plum on nose. Nice acid, balanced tannins with some vanilla and loads of black cherry on palate and finish. Still young and will get better with age. (6024 views) | | | Tasted by robertgoulet on 10/7/2009 & rated 91 points: Needs a bit of a decant, give it a couple more years, some unresolved tannins on the finish. Has the huge black currant lurking, it's poking out, but not as forward as the 05'. It will be there. Good QPR (5777 views) | | | Tasted by bigdomer on 7/17/2009 & rated 89 points: Very good. (6061 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2009, IWC Issue #147
(Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Chateau Ste. Michelle Producer websiteCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican 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 |
|
