March 17, 2012 - elegent blend - a bit light. although consumered after drinking window it did pour well
July 10, 2011 - Just drank a bottle of this at The Capital Grille in Providence and I have to say that this wine is still drinking amazingly! Definitely won't get any better, but there is wonderful age on this wine.
June 1, 2010 - Excellent wine. Light and great with Ribeye steaks.
March 13, 2009 - These are generally a lighter, more elegant style bordeaux blend, and this wine is examplary for the style! 9 years in the cellar served this wine perfectly, with the time meeting the structure 'just right.' According to the winemaker's notes, "1998 was an excellent vintage in the Columbia Valley" with smaller-than-average berries and an extended ripening. Smooth, with the afore-mentioned elegant structure so well melded it provides just the right brightness to support the delightfully complex bouquet including leather..and the slightest hint of...what is it...wait for it...in the peel banana? In the glass, it is an obviously well-extracted dark red, and can only see through little more than the meniscus. Ok--Now what am I tasting!? First taste revealed a gentle but evident tobacco note on top. But not like chilean cabs... This is well filtered, and no menthol, no green, no vegetal. Followed by red currant, oak and cedar (in that order), a hint of dark, unsugared berry jam, and a cocoa-mocha undercurrent. All together, it is magic. In summary: a signature wine from a signature year. No wonder! Find some and pour yourself a glass of "what-life-is-worth-living-for." :-)
To read the winemaker's notes, go here:
http://www.ste-michelle-wine-estates.com/image_bank/fullimages/CSM16501.pdf
June 30, 2008 - Definitely a Horse Heaven wine. Great tannins, very nice aromas of cocoa and oak on the nose.
August 1, 2006 - My last bottle - had it at the beach house on the Oregon coast. My tasting notes from May are the same. The wine has an impressive nose of cherry/berry flavors finishes smothly with a touch of spice.
May 28, 2006 - Great wine paired it with rib eye steak. There was plenty of deep cherry and plum flavors. It opened nicely after a 1/2 hour. There were spicy undertones on the finish -very smooth.