Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A fine bottle-full, fleshy, immediately throwing out dense aromatics with toast and roaste coffee and bitter chocolate components. A deep vein of black cherry and cassis keeps the core tight and focused, and a small splash of Syrah adds the scent of black pepper.
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Wine Spectator
Supple, ripe and generous, with a black pepper note weaving harmoniously through the focused black cherry and toast flavors that push through fine tannins on the refined finish. Drink now through 2016.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes. The Ste. Michelle 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Canoe Ridge Estate is unblended save for a touch of Syrah such as finds its way into many of this winery's otherwise Bordelais blends. Aged in diverse barrels 60% of which were new but are thankfully discreet, this displays the ripe dark cherry fruit with piquancy and cut of berry pip and skin and rich savor of blond tobacco, nut oils, dark chocolate, and nutmeg. The combination here of textural caress with vivacity is noteworthy – no doubt reflecting this relatively cool, prolonged growing season and windy, riverside location – and hints of salt and iodine add invigoration and saliva-inducement to a satisfyingly-sustained finish.
Chateau Ste. Michelle is the founding and oldest winery in Washington State. Established on December 5, 1933, Chateau Ste. Michelle is celebrating 90 years of being committed to quality grape growing and producing award winning wines. Washington’s oldest and most acclaimed winery features award-winning wines and unparalleled experiences at our historic Chateau. The wines interweave with the rich heritage to create a memorable wine experience.
The winemaking philosophy is to highlight the style, quality, and expression of Washington State. Always striving to respect the varietal characters and individuality of each location, yet still craft each wine for a pleasurable, food friend experience. Quality is the driving force at Chateau Ste. Michelle. The winery has spent decades investing in quality vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley, the finest winemaking equipment, and world-class, top winemaking talent. This commitment to quality has led Chateau Ste. Michelle to earn some of the highest accolades in the industry today.
24 "Winery of the Year" Honors from Wine & Spirits
18 "Top 100" Wines from Wine Spectator
Washington produces so many exciting wines, and that definitely includes Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With over 10,000 acres under vine, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely-grown varietal in the state. Terrific examples hail from sub-appellations like Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley. One of the fascinations of these Columbia Valley Cabs is that they so often seem to have one foot in the New World and one in the Old. Representing the former are characteristics like the ripe, forward fruit that results from long sunny days during the growing season (up to two hours longer than in much of California). Old World similarities include an undeniable brightness from acidity, as well as notes of herbs, graphite and a dusty, sometimes gravelly minerality.
Whether you’re looking for a budget bottle for everyday enjoyment, or a stellar, world-class wine with tremendous aging potential, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines can deliver the goods! Among the many fine options are bottles from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, L’ecole #41, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti.