Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Vineyard Merlot 2000

An elegant wine with a perfume nose, followed by black cherry, slight sweet herb and hints of vanilla. Ripe and concentrated fruit flavors are accented by mocha, coffee, and slight cedar notes in the background. Vanilla and caramel are picked up in the long finish.

The Columbia Valley has earned a reputation for bright, elegant Merlot that is true to its varietal ideal. Indian Wells Vineyard consistently produces one of the region's finest examples of this popular grape. Small, dark-colored berries typify Indian Wells Merlot, yielding a wine with intense color and flavor. Located at the base of Wahluke Slope, this vineyard is one of the warmest sites in the Columbia Valley. Combined with the area's low annual rainfall, quick draining soils here allow our vineyard manager to selectively regulate water to prevent excessive cane and leaf growth.

"Bright and juicy, bursting with fresh blackberry, currant and a touch of spicy oak, all of it echoing beautifully on the finish. Drink now through 2005."
-Wine Spectator