Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley

Medium dark ruby, almost opaque with pink at the rim; nose of black cherry and a hint of coconut from well-focused oak; flavors of juicy cherry fruit and sweet oak supported by finely grained tannins; moderately full mouth feel; it has some depth and concentration and a bit more stuffing than the regular bottling; drink now or hold for five as it will likely improve. Great QPR.

2016 vintage

This 7 year old Merlot from Washington State, is still drinking nicely, although starting to decline a bit. Full bodied with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with nice complexity. Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, oak, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf and herbs. Soft tannins on the tangy finish. Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle. Fruit forward and tasty. Tangy, spicy and interesting. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 90 points. $20.

2016 vintage

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with with nice complexity. Showing plums, sour cherries, raspberries, light oak, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn. Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries. This is a very nice Merlot from Washington State. Easy drinking and still tasty. Probably on its last leg, so drink up if you have any. Good right out of the bottle and …

2016 vintage

This 6 year old Merlot from Washington State is still drinking very nicely. Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim. Full bodied with medium acidity. Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity, and soft tannins on the finish. Showing blackberries, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, black pepper, dates, earth, cooked plums, raisins, figs and herbs. Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Good by itself as a sipping wine. Very tasty and affordable. …

2016 vintage

As before. A real crowd pleaser and a bargain.

2016 vintage

Don’t know purchase info. Been in wine cooler since obtained. Data said drink through 2018. It is Jan 2022. Drinkable but not enjoyable.

2016 vintage

Have been purchasing this at a substantial discount regularly and every vintage does not fail to disappoint. Lots of fruit and some eucalyptus on the nose with flavors of cherry, berry, vanilla oak, some earth. Quite hot but still balanced.

2016 vintage

This is actually pretty good. Medium to full body, a decent level of tannins. Noted of green pepper, eucalyptus, dark fruit. Throwing off some heat on the finish. But for the price, this is a really good deal!

2016 vintage

Very good, a bit on the shy side, but bell balanced.

2016 vintage

14.5% alcohol; composite cork with a maximum of 7 mm wine penetration, light to medium-weight foil; fast to medium legs, dark purple; opened and kept in the fridge for 24 hours before tasting; nose of alcohol and stone fruit; vinturied and tasted right afterward at approximately 9 degrees C; full bodied but not especially complex; balance tilted slightly toward sweetness, hitting especially the top middle of the tongue, tannins subdued, somewhat fruit forward, notes of sweet/sour cherries, minerals, earth; fruit, …

2016 vintage

Better than the first bottle we drank.

2016 vintage

I liked this very much. A nice chang e from the cabs I have been drinking.

2016 vintage

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim. Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, spices, coke and peppercorn. Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs. Dry on the palate and fruity with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth and peppercorn. Nice length with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This is a very tasty Merlot from Washington State. Rich and well …

2016 vintage

Vin bien équilibré, bon niveau de tannins, légère sensation de sécheresse sur la langue, plutôt boisé mais avec un bon goût de fruits. Un peu coûteux par contre : 27$/750ml

2016 vintage

It's a staple in the house and it is always well-received. Just as mentioned and the bottling, it's fruit-forward, spicy, but what impresses me about it is the brightness, which balances the acidity and keeps you sipping the wine (until all of a sudden, I've drank half of the bottle by myself)

2016 vintage

Nice smooth. Went well with chicken gumbo

2016 vintage

Liked it - good with the blackened chicken

2016 vintage

Overall good fruit and balance with the tannins. I was pleasantly surprised on the finish and overall flavour of cherries and wild flowers. Would definitely buy again or order at a restaurant.

2016 vintage

Plums, jam, sweet but with a backbone of leather, tobacco and blackcurrant.

2016 vintage

Notes of plum, blackberry and very strong component of earth. Smooth on the palate. Decent wine but I was overcome by the earthy note on the nose.

2016 vintage

Nice fruity Merlot

2016 vintage

A soft wine, but nice flavor. Well balanced, slight spice and tobacco notes. Good value wine.

2016 vintage

Lovely, becoming more lush as it opened. Was enjoyed with some strong cheeses, would compliment a rich marinara, but maybe best with a nicely marbled steak. Also enhances chocolate.

2005 vintage

14.9% alcohol, real cork, light to medium weight foil, fast legs, nose is fruit forward, notes of cherries and other stone fruit; taste is bland (non-tannic), not so sweet -- more fruit essence, minerals, earth; pair with chicken turkey, Cornish game hens; nothing exciting here, but it is a solid wine -- like for big parties

2005 vintage

“Spicy” start easy finish. SB Smooth, understated, w/a hinit of spiciness RD

2016 vintage

Decent aromatics, smoky, spicy palate. Quite impressive for a $15 bottle. 88-90 pts.

2005 vintage

Great value wine. Nice nose for fifteen dollars

2005 vintage

- Garnet color and aromas of tobacco and cherry. It's balanced and has flavours of oak with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Some oak still present but mild dark fruit flavors. can go beyond the drink window. I'll open the 2nd bottle in 6 months

2005 vintage

Sorry - didn't mean to call it flawed. Was doing it on my ipad. It was not flawed.

2005 vintage

Picked this up on a rec from CT wine buddy. Drank this after dinner w/ 2 couples and we all enjoyed the more full mouth taste of this merlot. Nice everyday drinker. Put me down for a repeat visit.

2005 vintage

Popped and poured. Drank over three evenings. This wine is showing well now. Immediately open and multi-dimensional with loads deep fruit and chocolate present. Held up well on 2nd and even tasty on the 3rd evening. Plenty of fruit still present so it probably is good for a few more years of aging.

2005 vintage

Nice $15 Merlot. Would buy again.

2005 vintage

Very good. Robust bouquet of cherries and plumb on the nose. Soft cherry flavor. A little "thin" at first, but became more solid with air and warmth. Very close to "delicious.". Will try again - was good with spaghetti; good everyday wine...

2005 vintage

Poker VI - We're Drinking F$#! Merlot (WCC) : Very dark color with plenty of oak. good fruit but not overwelming.

2005 vintage

A nice merlot; flavorful and smooth.

2005 vintage

Nice easy drinking merlot, middle of the road so to speak. Fruity and modestly structured.

2005 vintage

Fairly well balanced. Improved significantly on day 2.

2005 vintage

(1) This was surprisingly good. A very nice nose and a fruit-forward profile with little heat or oak. Will definitely seek out again.

2005 vintage

Full-bodied, with good fruit and nice floral notes. An excellent value.

2005 vintage

Popped and poured. Oaky nose, with some herbal black fruit and spices (and a hint of banana (!)). On the palate, definite oak influence, with some creaminess but no big bitterness. Medium+ tannin, acid and body. It's just the slightest bit on the ripe side, with a tiny hint of artificial candy, but the nice acid cuts it. Drinking well now, but this probably has some medium-term aging potential. $15

2005 vintage

Great Value for Price.

2005 vintage

Solid, full bodied, good transitions, oaky, medium finish, very enjoyable.

2005 vintage

Very pleasant for a $15 merlot! Nose has notes of brown sugar, milk chocolate and black cherries, with some garrigue. Echoed on palate, tilting a little more toward red fruit. Medium tannin and acid, with enough structure to last a few more years. Medium body, not at all jammy or overripe. Tons of concentration. Great QPR at $15.

2005 vintage

This was a pleasant surprise. Full body Merlot that reminded of the Indian Wells Cab.

2005 vintage

We drank this in a head-to-head comparison with Laraine Winery (Sierra Foothills, Calaveras County) 2006 Estate Merlot. The Chateau Ste Michelle has a great aroma, lots of oak. Very full bodied merlot, and much smoother than expected. Did not drink with food which would undoubtedly have brought out other features of the wine.

2005 vintage

Finally a full bodied merlot. Very smooth palate and paired well with lamb chops.

2005 vintage

Dark, rich and wonderful. Heavy amount of sweet baking spices on the nose, along with a palate full of ripe currants and plums, a touch of chocolate and olives, all carried on a well balanced structure. This delivers the goods and I would recommend.

2005 vintage

Pleasant, nothing fancy, but good middle of the road merlot.

2005 vintage

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Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley

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