Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage 2018
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Jeb
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
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Enthusiast
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Winemaker Notes
The 2018 vintage gave a perfect combination of heat for ripening in the summer and a gradual cool down during harvest that allowed proper ripeness in the ideal timeframe. This year's blend is a special combination of Canoe Ridge Estate (39%), Cold Creek (26%), Kely (18%), and Dineen (17%) Vineyards. The combination of warmer and cooler sites is the exact expression Ilook for in the Artist Series. The cooler sites provide dark cherry fruit, a touch of herbs and delicate harmony. The warmer sites give ballast and depth ot add concentration and aging potential. This wine plays the perfect role of 'Old World' styling with 'New World' structure.
Blend: 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc
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Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Artist Series Red Blend can be thought of as the flagship Bordeaux blend from this notable estate, and it's a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Pure cassis, blackberries, spring flowers, spicy oak, graphite, and tobacco are just some of its nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, balanced, elegant mouthfeel, impeccable balance, and outstanding length. It's one of those wines that grows on you with time in the glass and is just a class act that's well worth having in your cellar. It will have two decades of longevity.
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackberries, blueberries and bark. Medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins. Bright and fresh acidity lifts up the ripe black-fruited palate. Well structured and driven. Chocolate at the finish. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 2% malbec and 1% cabernet franc. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Artist Series Red Wine begins focused and earthy with a rocky core that sways with elements of blackberry and dark cherry skin with notions of spiced plum skin and sweet baking spice. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is chewy with a firm mouthfeel that remains persistent through the mid-palate while showing elements of graphite, pencil shavings and blackberry skin. The wine concludes with a dusty, ripe, red-fruited core and lingers with a tannic edge and subtly oaked finish. Give it a try.
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Wine Enthusiast
Cabernet Sauvignon (69%) and Merlot (28%) make up most of this wine, with the rest bits of Malbec and Cabernet Franc. A blend of fruit from Canoe Ridge (39%), Cold Creek (26%), Kelly (18%) and Dineen vineyards, the aromas offer notes of char, roasted coffee bean, chocolate and cherry, with the barrel influence primary at present. Silky soft chocolate flavors follow.
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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
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.