As the holidays approach us, there becomes extra cause for celebration, and, of course, bubbles at the holiday table. Domaine Ste. Michelle is one of those wineries that doesn’t get enough recognition considering the price point and quality that they put in the bottle. I am floored that very few wine writers feature this winery, as I don’t know another winery in the Pacific Northwest that is able to deliver bubbles at this price point. Considering the ‘Brut’ sells at Costco for $9.99, you could even make an argument that their ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine is one of the great sparkling wine values in North America. I have been fortunate enough to have many older vintages of the ‘Luxe’ sparkling wine and I have been really impressed how well this wine ages. ‘Luxe’ bottlings from 2006 and 2008 have been really singing lately.
At the helm is Paula Eakin, who has more 20 years of experience making wines in Washington state as part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. She started her winemaking career at Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Canoe Ridge Estate winery as a lab technician in 1994 shortly after college. In 2001, she joined sister winery Columbia Crest as an enologist and was promoted to assistant winemaker in 2004, specializing in white wines.
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Eakin was raised in northern Idaho and Kennewick, Washington. Her new sparkling wines were classy across the board. The NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 89) simply overdelivers for the price with its great freshness and brightness. One of the best sparkling wines produced not only in Washington but in the Pacific Northwest, the 2014 Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Luxe’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 92) has a wonderful rich core of orchard fruits and shows great weight and texture from this warm vintage. Learn more about this fantastic winery for sparkling wine at
https://www.michellesparkling.com Here are the great new wines by Domaine Ste. Michelle.
NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Extra Dry’ Sparkling Wine- The nose leads with biscuit and sweetened pear with suggestions of nutmeg. Fresh and inviting, showing moderate sweetness, the wine leads with sweetened apple and pear flavors with lighter marzipan and candied lemon flavors. Drink 2019-2023- 89
NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The NV ‘Brut’ Sparkling wine starts off with light sourdough bread with a dusting of citrus zest that build on the nose. The freshness is really lovely, as is the lighter melon and green apple flavors that meld with citrus rind. This is very good for the price. Drink 2019-2023- 89
NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The ‘Brut Rose’ has light red fruits that dance with shades of honeydew melon and sourdough bread. Soft and inviting upon entry, the light guava and red cherry candy flavors entice. Drink 2019-2023- 89
2014 Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Luxe’ Sparkling Wine- The 2014 ‘Luxe’ by Domaine Ste. Michelle is another fantastic bottling from this great estate. Aged sur lie in the bottle for over 3 years prior to disgorgement, the ‘Luxe’ opens with toasted brioche and apricot with shades of lemon zest and nutmeg that take shape in the glass. The palate shows wonderful weight and texture, as lemon infused sourdough bread and green apple flavors with suggestions of green papaya all mingle together with the wonderful sense of minerality. This is top notch stuff from this warm vintage in Washington. Drink 2019-2026- 92