Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2018 (750ml)

 

Rated 91 Points by Wine Enthusiast

 

The aromas are unmistakably Cabernet, bringing full-on notes of black currant along with dried herb and a kiss of spice.  The flavors are ripe, luxurious and remarkably fruit forward, with the oak pleasantly dialed back.  It shows plenty of richness in the middle.

 

Ranked #1 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy of 2021 

 

Chateau Ste. Michelle crafts this Columbia Valley Cabernet to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style.  This is an inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins.  It's also very versatile with food.

 

Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Columbia Valley 2018

 

“We craft our Columbia Valley Cabernet to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style.  This is an inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins.  It’s also very versatile with food.  Enjoy it with beef tenderloin or pasta.”  Bob Bertheau, Winemaker

 

Composition:  85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Grenache, 1% Cabernet Franc

 

Alcohol:  13.5

 

Vintage Notes

 

• 2018 was another stellar growing season and vintage in Washington.
• Warm spring temperatures were followed by mild conditions throughout the growing season allowing for extended hang time and flavor development.
• Warm fall days allowed for full ripeness and color, while cool Washington nights helped maintain crisp natural acidity.

 

Vineyard Notes

 

• Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually.
• Warm, sunny days and cool evening temperatures create ideal conditions for intense aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes.
• Sandy soils with low fertility and low water-holding capacity enable precise control of vine growth.

 

Winemaking Notes

 

• Ripe grapes were destemmed and inoculated with various strains of yeast to maximize complexity.
• Gentle pumpovers during fermentation were used to extract color and flavor and produce soft, supple tannins.
• Aged 12 months in 25% New French Oak, 8% New American Oak and 67% Neutral Oak.

 

Columbia Valley

 

Chateau Ste. Michelle owns 3,500 acres in Washington state's renowned Columbia Valley.  The Columbia Valley American Viticulture Area (AVA) is a region separated from Seattle's rainy, marine climate by the Cascade Mountains.  The mountains shield the rain, limiting annual rainfall to 6-8 inches, allowing our vineyard managers to control vine vigor through irrigation.  All vines in the Columbia Valley are planted on their own rootstock, which helps us maintain the health and longevity of our vineyards and preserves the grape variety in its natural state.

 

 

Chateau Ste Michelle

 

Celebrating more than 50 years of winemaking.  Since then, we have combined Old World winemaking traditions with New World innovation.  In fact, Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the few premium wineries in the world with two state-of-the-art wineries, one for red and one for white.  The whites are made at the Chateau in Woodinville, WA, while the reds are made at our Canoe Ridge Estate winery in Eastern Washington.

 

Winery Acclaim

 

Quality is the driving force in everything we do 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.

 

Winemaking Philosophy

 

Our winemaking philosophy is to highlight the style, quality and expression of our Washington state vineyards.  We strive to respect the varietal characters and individuality of each location, yet still craft each wine to give you a pleasurable, food friendly experience.

 

Uniqueness & Approachability

 

From crisp, refreshing Rieslings to elegant, complex Chardonnays and from powerful Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon to restrained Canoe Ridge Merlot, our wines show individuality, with a stamp of softness and approachability that we work on at every step of the winemaking process.

 

 

Rated 91 Points by Wine Enthusiast

 

The aromas are unmistakably Cabernet, bringing full-on notes of black currant along with dried herb and a kiss of spice.  The flavors are ripe, luxurious and remarkably fruit forward, with the oak pleasantly dialed back.  It shows plenty of richness in the middle.

 

Ranked #1 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy of 2021 

 

Chateau Ste. Michelle crafts this Columbia Valley Cabernet to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style.  This is an inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins.  It's also very versatile with food.