Wine Watch Private Club Happy Hour Merlot from Washington State with Chateau Ste. Michelle FREE tasting from 4-6pm Thursday June 11th
"I've always been impressed by Washington State merlot. It just sort of jumped out of the glass at me...You just feel this is right: this is not an attempt at something, this is something." - Jancis Robinson
It's the end of the fiscal year for some of the big wine companies and that means "Stupid Deal" time and we love to get a deal on a wine that we already love and most of you who have been following our handy work know that I love the wines of Washington State. What most people don't know is that they make some of the best merlot in the United States in the Columbia Valley Washington.
All right don't give me a hard time about Merlot as this is one of the few red grape varietals that can be made into a world class wine. This varietal has a bad rap because of the ocean of thin and insipid wines that are produced under this moniker in California. Truth be told some of the greatest, longest lived and most expensive wines of Bordeaux are made almost exclusively with this varietal- IE. the famous Chateau Petrus from Pomerol.
Truth be told there are only a few places on earth that produce outstanding Merlot. Of course, you have St. Emilion and Pomerol in France. Then we make great merlot in Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles in California. In Italy they also produce outstanding Merlot in Tuscany. But that is about it! Merlot may be even more finicky than Pinot Noir!
Washington state wineries have become very well known for their Merlot over the last two decades and the most important winery is Chateau St. Michelle.
The first people who planted grapes in Washington were the German and Italian immigrants and that was around 1825.
Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington state’s Founding Winery, with some of the oldest and most acclaimed vineyards in the Columbia Valley.
Built on the 1912 estate owned by Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson, the winery’s roots date back to the Repeal of Prohibition, when the Pommerelle Wine Company and the National Wine Company were formed. They merged in 1954 to form American Wine Growers. In 1967, American Wine Growers began a new line of premium vinifera wines called “Ste. Michelle Vintners” under the direction of legendary California winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff.
Ste. Michelle Vintners planted its first vines at Cold Creek Vineyard in Eastern Washington in 1972. Cold Creek remains one of the oldest and most renowned vineyards in the state. Ste. Michelle Vintners now own more than 3,500 prime vineyard acres in the Columbia Valley.
We just acquired an incredible collection of older vintage wines from this landmark winery of Washington state and at over 50% the release price and these wines are the most limited wines produced at this behemoth of a winery. Chateau Ste. Michelle is the world’s largest producer of Riesling but most of these wines listed below are under 1500 cases in production and almost all of them are only available at the winery or on the mailing list!
We will host a FREE tasting tomorrow for Wine Club Members ONLY with every one of the wines listed below and we will have them available by the case for SALE at up to 50% off their release price! Wine Club Members will have an additional 48 hours to order before this offering is sent out to the rest of the Wine Watch e-mail list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Washington State
The Best Merlot in the USA!
Wine Watch Wine Club FREE Tasting
Thursday, June 11th
4-6pm
2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle Block 9 Merlot Wahluke Slope Columbia Valley
Price: $55.00 Sale Price: $22.50
This limited production merlot (1403 cases) is from the Wahluke Slope from the famous Block 9 is an unreserved expression of Washington State Merlot from winemaker Tristan Butterfield. A good amount of red plum, cherry and black raspberry fruit with hints of milk chocolate and sweet baking spices showing on the nose. Smooth and silky tannins on the tongue and a good amount of fresh berry fruit, still quite fresh and a good hand of acidity holding things firmly in place here and although drinking nicely at 9 years of age this wine should age for another 5-8 years easily. Finish 45+ Wine Watch Review: Excellent
2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle Block 9 Merlot Wahluke Slope Columbia Valley
Price: $55.00 Sale Price: $22.50
This limited production merlot (1277 cases) is from the Wahluke Slope from the famous Block 9 is an unreserved expression of Washington State Merlot from winemaker Tristan Butterfield. A good amount of red plum, cherry and black raspberry fruit with hints of fresh flowers and sweet tobacco spice showing on the nose. Still has some dry tannins on the tongue but has plenty of ripe berry fruit to match, still quite youthful and may need another couple of years to be drinking at or near its peak. Finish 50+ Wine Watch Review: Exellent +
2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle 'The Nod' Limited Release Merlot Columbia Valley
Price: $45.00 Sale Price: $19.50
Only 403 cases of the Nod Merlot was produced in 2017 by winemaker Brian Mackey. A good amount of fresh dusty earth on the nose with dried tobacco spice and plum and cherry berry fruit coming out more as the wine opens. A light and elegant wine on the tongue with soft tannins and a touch of vanilla spice on the finish, drinking beautifully right now! Finish 40+ Very Good +
2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Limited Release Red Blend Horse Heaven Hills
Price: $55.00 Sale Price: $22.50
Only 397 cases of this Horse Heaven Hills blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec and 10% Syrah from the famous Canoe Ridge Vineyard was produced by winemaker Brian Mackey. A deep and intense bouquet of currant, dark cherry and blackberry fruit on the nose with a full complement of cedar, graphite and dark mocha nuance more and more coming out as the wine opens up. Big and chewy on the tongue with an abundance of rich ripe fruit, a good amount of ripe tannins and a long layered finish echoing all that nuance from the nose through the finish. Wow, a blockbuster and the
2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Limited Release Red Blend Columbia Valley
Price: $55.00 Sale Price: $22.50
Only 987 cases of this blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Malbec were produced by winemaker Bob Bertheau from the famous Cold Creek Vineyard. This is the biggest of the wines from this tasting and for one of the oldest wines here it has the most structure and tannins on the tongue with an array of blackberry, black plum and black cherry fruit with highlights of espresso, bitter coco and dark earth with more nuance coming out as the wine opens up. This wine is a little monster and
2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Red Columbia Valley, Washington
Price: $65.00 Your Price: $52.00
The 2013 Artist Series is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc and this was a hot vintage so it was a challenge sourcing grapes for this wine from coller regions of the Columbia Valley and the wine has matured beautifully at 13 years of age showing cigar box spice, fresh earth and still a good amount of red plum and cherry berry fruit on the nose. This wine has silky smooth tannins on the tongue with a good amount of juicy fruit and a fresh finish echoing the nunace from the nose through the finish, this wine will continue to age for another decade or more and is drinking beautifully right now. Finish 50+ Most Excellent
This limited-production, Bordeaux-style blend is an annual tradition built on an award-winning heritage. A bold and complex, yet highly refined red wine – its layers of dark fruit, herbs, and baking spices are balanced with depth and structure that make it very age-worthy. A true work of art.
2008 Chateau St Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Washington
Price: $45.00 Sale Price: $29.00 Quantity in Stock: 53
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon from this acclaimed 40-year-old Cold Creek Vineyard and at 18 years of age this wine is still delivering power, structure and rich concentrated black berry fruit along with dark chocolate, sweet tobacco spice and a soy umami character also, very complex bouquet of aromas. On the palate this wine is dense and rich and still has aging potential, they added 1% Merlot to the blend but this is nearly pure Cabernet Sauvignon (99%) and has the intensity of a great Cabernet Sauvignon in a cellar worthy vintage. Finish 50+ Wine Watch Score: Most Excellent
We will not be serving food with this FREE tasting to club members but here is the menu you can order from tomorrow at the event if you are hungry.
Wine Club Menu Week of June 8th
Cheese and Charcuterie
$10/Ounce
Parmesan Reggiano, Beemster Gouda, Manchego, Sharp Canadian Cheddar, French Brie, Chevre Goat, Buttermilk Blue, Danish Blue, Gorgonzola, Drunken Goat, Taleggio, Tulip Tree Double Creme
Prosciutto de Parma, Fennel Salumi, Truffle Salumi, Soppressata, Breasola, Chorizo, Chupacabra, Bourbon Bacon Salumi
Pata Negra Jamon
$20/Ounce
Served with Crostini, Assorted Olives, Toasted Nuts and Jam
Fresh Bread
$10
Fontodi Olive Oil - $2/20ml (500ml) Bottle $46.25
Bonini 25-Year Aged Premium Italian Balsamic Vinegar from Modena- $20/10ml. $150/100ml Bottle
Cognac infused Foie Gras Torchon Served with Bacon Jam, Crostini and Whole Wheat Toast $30/ounce
Shoestring Fries with Parmesan and White Truffle Oil
$20
Beef Sliders with Truffle Mushroom Aioli and Gruyere Cheese on Brioche Bun
$28/3 Sliders
Charcuterie with Caramelized Onion, Roasted Red Pepper and Mozzarella Pizza
$28
Ceasar Salad with Bacon Fat Fried Polenta Croutons, Crispy Prosciutto and Reggiano Parmesan
$20
Summer Tomato and Herbed Gazpacho Finished with Fontodi Olive Oil
$18
Canadian Lobster Enchilada with Cheddar Cheese Salsa Verde, Tomato Onion and Black Olive
$30
Crispy Pork Belly Bites with Onion Relish and Sweet Potato Chips
$28
Short Rib Beef Wellington With Crème Fraiche Mash and red Wine Demi
$40
Dessert Selection Changes Daily
$15
Evian (750ml) $10
Pellegrino (1 Liter) $10
French Press Coffee with Coco Nibs $10 (750ml)
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