Chateau Ste Michelle is a beautiful Washington State winery known for their rich Merlot
and Cabernet.
We are a huge fan of the Northwest wines, so this tasting was exceptionally special for us.
Eroica Riesling
Eroica
delivers a unique combination of tangerine aromas characteristic of Washington
state Riesling, melded with the mineral and slate notes and lively, crisp acidity associated with German Riesling. The 2004 vintage continues toward the Germanic style with added complexity and refinement.
Eroica begins in the vineyard with Ernst Loosen and Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Bob Bertheau collaborating on site selection, irrigation management, crop levels and canopy management. Yields were adjusted and fruit
exposure was managed to prolong the ripening season for added flavor development of these cooler climate vineyards. Vineyards in Eastern Washington’s Yakima Valley provided the backbone for the 2004 Eroica blend. 24%
of Riesling grapes from our Horse Heaven Vineyard in the Columbia Valley also contributed to the final blend.
Dr Loosen St M Riesling
The 2003 Saint M Riesling is a fresh, fruit-driven wine with wonderfully ripe flavors of peach and apricot. The delightful flavors of Saint M pair with nearly any fare.
Saint M Riesling is crafted in a medium-dry style with lower alcohol and crisp acidity. Saint M finishes with a nice touch of minerality that is typical of the Pfalz region. Dr. Loosen very successfully crafted Saint M
in a traditional style. Saint M is a fantastic value as a classic food-friendly Riesling from the Pfalz Region. 12% Alcohol
Aromas
of raspberry, bittersweet chocolate, spice and toast lead to flavors of red currant, black raspberry and intriguing notes of pepper and cinnamon. This is a flavorful, yet elegant Merlot.”
This Merlot is sourced from vineyards throughout Washington state’s Wahluke Slope. The Wahluke Slope is a warm region with an intense
growing season. Loamy, sandy well-draining soils allow vine growth to be meticulously controlled through drip irrigation and canopy management. The region’s warm days cause the grapes to assert sweet citrus and
tropical characteristics, while the cool nights promote good structure, balance and flavor intensity
89 pts. The Wine Spectator (2001 Vintage) 90 pts. Wine Spectator (2000 Vintage) 92 pts. Connoisseurs' Guide
Northstar Merlot
Starting in the mid-1980's, Washington's Columbia
Valley began to be recognized as one of the most special places on Earth to grow and make Merlot. Northstar Winery was created with the sole purpose of determining how good this grape variety can ultimately be. From the
inaugural 1994 vintage, the Northstar winemaking team has sought to capture the pure fruit essence of the Merlot grape, and endowing it with a balance of power and finesse that is rarely achieved by any grape variety.
Northstar Columbia
Valley Merlot draws from numerous vineyards and individual vineyard blocks from around the entire appellation. This provides our winemaker a broad pallette of flavors and textures, and helps ensure a
consistency in style despite variation in growing season from year to year. The emphasis is always on the bright cherry fruit that gives Washington Merlot its immediate appeal. Special fermentation and barrel aging
regimes help provide the wine with a mouthfilling texture, and the ability to age gracefully for years to come. This wine is distinct from the Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot, having more of a malted chocolate character
surrounding the fruit, and has a velvety tannin structure that typically makes it more accessible in its youth.
Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from our 30-year-old Cold Creek Vineyard delivers concentrated blackberry, dark chocolate and vanilla
aromas with hints of earth and oak. The wine is intense, extracted and rich in flavors and texture. Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is power in a bottle!
Planted in 1973, the south-facing Cold Creek Vineyard is a warm, dry site with high heat accumulation.
The low yielding old vines produce small clusters and small berries, resulting in intense varietal flavors and deep color.
The site’s weak, loamy sand and gravel soils with low water-holding capacity produce moderate crops and concentrated grapes. Cold Creek typically is one of the earliest vineyards in the region to ripen.
91 pts.
The Wine Enthusiast (2001 Vintage) 90 pts., Wine Spectator (2000 Vintage) 91 pts. & "Spectator Selection" Wine Spectator (1999 Vintage)
