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Ste Michelle Wine Estates Washington State Portfolio Riesling/Gewurztraminer/Rose’ Seminar
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008 |
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Speaker: George A. Foote, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, National Wine Educator
Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington State and has been producing classic European varietals under the Chateau Ste. Michelle label since 1967. Dr Ernst Loosen, owner of Dr. Loosen estate has been collaborating with Chateau Ste. Michelle on Eroica Riesling since 1999.
Today, Ste Michelle Wine Estates Washington State Portfolio includes 8 vineyards producing Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Rose wines.
Riesling is so much more complicated than other varieties because it has both horizontal and vertical dimensions. In addition to extreme regional differences, it's a variety that can be made in many different styles, from bone dry with high alcohol to moderately sweet with light alcohol, to lusciously sweet with very low alcohol.
We tasted 12 wines; seven Riesling, including Eroica, designed to showcase the regional styles within Washington State Columbia Valley plus two Gewurztraminer and three Rose'.
Prices are full markup retail price. We asked for one vote for favorite rose’, two votes for favorite riesling and one vote for favorite Gewurtztraminer. Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Nellie’s Garden Dry (rose) - 2006 was the favorite Rose’. Eroica Riesling – 2006 was the favorite Riesling. Chateau Ste Michelle Cold Creek Riesling- 2006 placed second favorite Riesling. Snoqualmie Naked Gewurztraminer – 2007 was the favorite Gewurztraminer.
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| Flight I: Rose' |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Gaudo Al Tasso Scalabrone (Rose) - 2006
Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 30% Syrah. Grapes were de-stemmed and soft crushed, with skin- to juice contact for 12-24 hours. Separate varietal juice was stainless steel fermented to preserve freshness, then stored without oxygen contact prior to bottling. Bright rose color, with fruity aromas and hints of raspberries. Well-balanced and tangy on the palate with a pleasant fruity aftertaste of raspberries and wild berries. A delightful wine. |
7 |
$19.99 |
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Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Nellie’s Garden Dry (Rose) - 2006
Grape Variety : 96% Syrah, 1.5% Grenache, 1.5% Viognier and 1% Mourvedre. 82% tank fermented and 18% sur lie aged for 2 months in neutral older french oak. Light rose color. Beautiful fruit aromas and flavors of strawberry, cherry, raspberry with subtle spice notes. Medium body, mouth fills with these wonderful fruit flavors. The favorite Rose’ of the tasting.
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10 |
$12.99 |
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Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 (Rose) – 2007
Grape Variety 100% Syrah. De-stemmed and crushed into refrigerated tanks with a 24 hour cold soak to extract the desired color. To minimize phenolic pickup. The juice was drained away from the skins into temperature controlled stainless steel fermenters. To enhance the fresh fruit aromatics, a small amount of stainless steel fermented Viognier was incorporated into the final blend. Aromas of light red fruits, cherries, strawberries and watermelon. Bright flavors of berries and cherries on the palate. Crisp and refreshing finish.
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6 |
$9.99 |
| Flight II: Riesling |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Chateau Ste Michelle/Dr Loosen Riesling – 2006
Refreshing, elegant wine with pure, bright, crisp fruit flavors. Medium dry style with lower alcohol and lively acidity. Minerality on the finish. It comes from the sunny Pfalz region of Germany, just north of Alsace, where full ripeness is possible every vintage. A cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks was used to preserve the freshness of the wine. |
0 |
$17.99 |
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Eroica Riesling – 2006
This magnificent wine represents winemaking collaboration between Bob Gertheau, CSM winemaker and Dr Ernst Loosen of Germany. The wine is made primarily of selected lots from the cooler regions of the Yakima Valley, with resources coming from St Michelle Estates’ Horse Heaven vineyard and adding a new vineyard source from north of Wahluke slope AVA. Berries go direct to press, then the juice is cool fermented to capture freshness and minerality. Mandarin and lime aromas and subtle mineral and slate flavors. The 06 show the warmth of the vintage with its slightly richer, bolder style. The favorite Rielsing. A delicious wine. |
14 |
$23.99 |
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Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling – 2006
Cool fermented to capture the fresh fruit characteristics of Riesling. Aromas and taste of juicy peach, apricot, ripe pear and melon. Classic Washington State Riesling character. 600,000 cases of wine were produced. |
3 |
$12.99 |
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Columbia Crest Grand Estates Riesling 2006
This new Grand estate Riesling was cold settled for 2 days, after which the juice was inoculated with several yeasts for 16-20 day fermentation. Intense aromas of apple, tropical fruit and spice are complimented by a hint of minerality. Rich fresh fruit flavors appear on the palate with crisp acidity, leading to a lively, vibrant finish. Very smooth and balanced wine. |
5 |
$17.99 |
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Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Riesling - 2006
This vintage relies on grapes grown in a very warm and dry climate, which are cool fermented in stainless steel to preserve and accentuate the fresh fruit characteristics. Aromas of pineapple and mango. The wine is rich and elegant. |
11 |
$30.00 |
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Chateau Ste Michelle Cold Creek Riesling - 2006
Cold Creek vineyard enjoys the longest and warmest growing seasons in the Columbia valley. The sites silt-loom soil and the area’s low annual rainfall force the vines to struggle, producing fruit with intense, concentrated flavors and aromas. Cold Creek vineyard produces a rich soft tropical Style of Riesling. Fruit driven, ripe peach character while maintaining a refined elegance. The second favorite of this flight. |
12 |
$17.99 |
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Snoqualmie Naked Riesling - 2007
Resources from a Columbia Valley vineyard that were certified organic in ’05 were gently pressed and inoculated in Pre yeast for cool fermentation. Growing grapes using organic practices is a win-win situation for everyone. While being sensitive to our environment and society, They are still producing world class grapes and wines. Bright yellow color. Aromas of spicy apple and pear. Juicy fruit flavors on the palate and a lingering spice and honey finish. Would pair well with spicy foods.
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9 |
$11.99 |
| Flight III: Gewürztraminer |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer - 2006
Grapes: 91% Gewurztraminer and 9% Muscat Canelli. Cool temperatures were maintained throughout the fermentation process to preserve the wines fresh, fruity and spicy aromas. Bright color, refreshing, medium –dry wine with honeydew melon, pink grapefruit and delicate spice aromas and flavors. |
6 |
$9.99 |
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Snoqualmie Naked Gewurztraminer – 2007
Grapes grown in a certified organic vineyard north of the Columbia Basin are pressed and inoculated with Premier Cuvee yeast for cool fermentation. This organically farmed and produced Gewürztraminer offers orange blossom and spice aromas, complimented by a refreshingly crisp and juicy mouthful of fruit flavor. This wine has decidedly pure impressions of fully mature Gewurztraminer grapes with slight mineral characters of the terroir. Delicious. It was the favorite Gewurztraminer.
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22 |
$11.99 |
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