Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Merlot is a medium-bodied red wine that offers a rich and velvety texture with superb balance and exceptional depth. This wine is made with handpicked grapes from Columbia Valley, which is known for its distinctive terroir and climate that produces high-quality wines. The nose exhibits black cherry, cassis, and plum aromas along with hints of vanilla, oak, and spice. On the palate, flavors of blackberry and dark chocolate are prominent, and the finish is smooth and lingering with well-integrated tannins. It pairs beautifully with grilled steak, roasted lamb, or hearty pasta dishes. Overall, Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Merlot is an affordable and delicious choice for any wine lover.

Tasting Notes

This complex yet approachable Merlot is produced by Chateau Ste. Michelle, the founding winery of Washington State. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich, dark red fruit flavours and a long, smooth, sweet finish. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character which transforms this “everyday red” into something out of the ordinary.

About the Winery

Chateau Ste. Michelle is the oldest and largest winery in Washington. It has been producing classic European varietal wines since 1967.

The award-winning wines crafted at Ste. Michelle are made from grapes sourced from vineyards of excellent terroir, located in Columbia Valley. Here, the Ste. Michelle Wine brand owns a massive lot of 3500 acres, where the purest and most authentic grapes are cultivated. The marine climate with the Cascade Mountains at the backdrop, limited rainfall and the process of vines being cultivated on their own rootstock help in preserving the natural taste of the grapes grown here. Cold Creek, Horse Heaven and Canoe Ridge are the three vineyards of this region.

Cold Creek Vineyard – This vineyard was planted in 1972 and is considered as one of the most ancient in Washington. The climate here is very warm as the Columbia River doesn’t provide any cooling effect. This results in the unique flavour of the grapes that are grown here. The loamy sand of this vineyard makes it easy to grow varietals such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Canoe Ridge Estate – The cobblestone-rich deep sandy loam soil of this estate, along with the warm temperature, covers 559 acres of excellent quality vines. This area is known for its strong wind patterns. Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown here.

Horse Heaven Vineyard – With the Horse Heaven Hills and the Columbia River forming the perfect backdrop, this is a beautiful vineyard with very little rainfall throughout the year. The silt-loam and sandy soil make it ideal for cultivating Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.

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