A world-class Washington producer, you might not know that Chateau Ste. Michelle produces roughly 8 million bottles of Riesling a year. The remarkable thing about that is their entry level Riesling is seriously good. You also might not know that it is the oldest winery in Washington state, as Chateau Ste. Michelle was originally founded as the American Wine Company, set on 87 acres that was once a rural farm. Many great Washington winemaking talents have come through Chateau Ste. Michellle, from Dan Wampfler to Jason Gorski. Chateau Ste. Michelle owns some of the state’s historic vineyards including the Cold Creek Vineyard which was founded in the 1970s.
I have loved the wines over the years produced by former winemaker Bob Bertheau, as Katie Nelson took over as head winemaker several years ago and has been doing a fantastic job. Nelson has serious pedigree formerly with K Vintners and Columbia Crest (head winemaker).
I recently had the chance to taste the range of Chateau Ste. Michelle wines which truly shine even in the challenging 2019 vintage for Bordeaux wines. Don’t sleep on the 2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica XLC’ Riesling (OB, 94) which is a ‘GG’ style wine that saw extended barrel age. Dry and polished, with a smooth texture, this is a treat to enjoy now and over the next decade. The best wine I tasted is one that will easily dance with any dessert wine made in North America. A must try for a very special occasion, the new 2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Single Berry Select’ Dessert Wine (OB, 99) flirts with perfection with its insanely good concentration and depth. If you have never tasted a Trockenbeerenauslese, this is a must-try. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com Here are the recent Riesling releases by Chateau Ste. Michelle
2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Indian Wells’ Riesling- An absolutely stellar value, the 2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Indian Wells’ Riesling offers sweetened peach and gooseberry flavors with stony accents and a cascade of minerality on the palate. Enjoy now while this brilliant freshness remains intact. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica XLC’ Riesling- Very dry, the ‘Eroica XLC’ saw extended barrel aging and is done in the GG style. Stored in large oak casks, the Riesling shows a smooth texture with serious underlying verve. Green apple, cantaloupe and stony minerals greet you on the palate, with outstanding length. This is just a beautiful wine that is unlike anything you will taste in the Pacific Northwest. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Gold’ Riesling- Intense and heady, the outstanding 2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Gold’ Riesling shows ripe pineapple, honeyed mango and shades of sweet peach on the palate with loads of bright acidity. This is superb stuff that is only starting to hit its stride. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Single Berry Select’ Riesling- Without a doubt the top dessert wine produced in the Pacific Northwest (and arguably in North America), the Trockenbeerenauslese-inspired 2016 ‘Eroica Single Berry Select’ is another dazzling edition of this wine that flirts with perfection. Once on the nose this takes on a literal cornucopia of stunning aromatics. Honeysuckle, apricot jelly, vanilla creme brûlée, candied kumquat and ginger notes all combine on the nose. The palate is deep and penetrating yet comes off very weightless and displays a dazzling level of underlying finesse. Decadent and rich, this is going to be an epiphany wine for you to savor. Drink 2023-2045- 99
2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Indian Wells’ Rose- A delightful new Rose, the 2022 ‘Indian Wells’ shows Japanese pear flavors alongside starfruit and ripe red raspberry tones on the palate. The underlying finesse really gets going, as does the very long finish to this bright and lip-smacking new Rose bottling. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 91
2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay- Chardonnay harvest was early in this warm vintage, as the wine comes from a south-facing old site near the Columbia River. This edition shows bright nectarine and kiwi flavors alongside copious minerals and a good veil of tension. It comes off very clean, as this is fantastic stuff to enjoy now and over the next five years. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- I’ve been purchasing this wine since the 2002 vintage and this edition comes off very inky. The weight, balance and mouthfeel is excellent here as black plum, dark chocolate shavings and shades of blackberry cobbler all wonderfully come together on the palate. Enjoy this excellent value now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2023-2031- 92
2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very dark in the glass, the 2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon displays a soft mouthfeel with good viscosity. Layers of dark chocolate shavings, espresso grounds and dense dark fruits greet you on the palate, with a good underlying sense of verve. Outstanding now, enjoy this great value Cabernet Sauvignon over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 92
2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine is a glorious effort from a slightly cooler vintage in the Columbia Valley. Everything marches in unison here, as this edition is a pillowy combination of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 31% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, this is already beautifully evolved stuff with mocha, tar, violets and stony minerals that all meld together on the palate. With silky tannins and a smooth mouthfeel, this will cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038- 94