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Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Red 2013

Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Red 2013

Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2013 Artist Series Red is an elegant composition of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Malbec, and 3% Cab Franc, with 85% of the fruit sourced from Cold Creek Vineyard. This is also winemaker Bob Bertheau’s favorite wine to blend, one where he’s given free reign. Freshly turned earth, black currants, cassis, […]

W.T. Vintners Stoney Vine Vineyard Syrah 2014

W.T. Vintners Stoney Vine Vineyard Syrah 2014

The 2014 W.T. Stony Vine Vineyards Syrah reverberates with abundant blackberry and black cherry notes couched in a complex melange of green hay, black licorice, Chinese 5-Spice, sassafras, roasted meat, and green peppercorn. Medium weight, very Rhône-like in its countenance. Fresh and vivid, nicely balanced, and graced with a minerally vein that suspends itself over […]

Terra Blanca ONYX Red Mountain 2009

Terra Blanca ONYX Red Mountain 2009

Another lovely showing from a lineup of wines sampled at Terra Blanca. The 2009 Onyx is drinking beautifully—an elegant Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, all from the winery’s Red Mountain estate. Generous, layered aromas of blackberries, cassis, ripe plum, bay leaf, and cedar lead into a wine that […]

Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary Special Bottling 2015

Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary Special Bottling 2015

Plush with ripe, juicy blueberries, blackberries, black currants, vanilla, and cedar. The 2015 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet was selected as one of the wines to bear a limited edition 50th Anniversary label, a nod to the winery’s past and former name of Ste. Michelle Vineyards. Plump and juicy in the mouth, this is classic Washington […]

Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica 2015

hateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica

Tasted following an interview with Ted Baseler (for an article on Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 50th Anniversary forthcoming in next month’s Somm Journal), the 2015 Eroica is the result of a long and fruitful partnership with Dr. Ernst Loosen. As such, it sports an endearing touch of petrol on the nose, something I readily attribute to […]

Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Lavishly perfumed with sumptuous blackberry, black currant, lavender pastille, camphor and, interestingly a dusting of talcum powder. On the palate, this Cab-dominant blend is classic Washington State in expression, medium weight, with a juicy black fruit core. That chalky note reemerges towards the finish, giving the impression that the tannins are slightly powdery and fine. […]

Columbia Winery Chardonnay 2014

Columbia Winery Chardonnay

Columbia Winery’s 2014 Chardonnay is actually a blend—91% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Gris, 2% Viognier, 2% “select white varieties”. Lemon-hued, the aromatic profile is predominantly orchard fruit—yellow apple and Bosc pear with a suggestion of tropical fruit and lemon budino pudding layered in. Medium-bodied and straightforward on the palate, this is a wine that few will […]

Columbia Winery Red Blend 2014

Columbia Winery Red Blend 2014

50-year old Columbia Winery is sporting new packaging, I’m always glad to be in the know of such things. The more important question, however—does the packaging match the contents? A supple blend of 40% Merlot, 39% Syrah, 8% Cabernet, 7% Cab Franc, and 6% Malbec the NV Red Blend sports a classic Columbia Valley profile […]

King Estate NxNW (North by Northwest) Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2013

King Estate NxNW (North by Northwest) Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2013

From King Estate’s North by Northwest project in Walla Walla is this 2013 Syrah. Ripe and heavy with black cherries, plums, cedar and incense. Juicy black fruit leads the charge on the palate, cradled in moderate toast and lovely earthy-leathery undertones. There’s a nice streak of acidity to add lift to a wine that has […]

Coyote Canyon Vineyard H/H Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Big John 2010

Coyote Canyon Vineyard H/H Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Big John 2010

Coyote Canyon’s H/H Estate ‘Big John Cab’ Reserve 2010 is garnet-hued at this stage in its life, sporting notes of black cherry, crème de cassis, subtle spice, and dried mint. Satiny smooth on entry with polished tannins and moderate concentration. Black and red fruit nestled at the center, along with a touch of vanilla. Drink […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com