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Exploring Red Grape Varieties from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Tuesday December 2, 2008 Speaker: George A. Foote- National Wine Educator, Juan Ortega - New York State Manager Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Founded in 1934, Ste. Michelle Winery pioneered grape growing in Washington State. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates was formally established in 1986 but some of the wineries have a history dating back to just after the repeal of prohibition. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates produces and markets a broad portfolio of premium wines from vineyards around the world with more than 4,200 acres of vineyards in Washington, Oregon and California. In addition to Chateau Ste. Michelle, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates today includes: Columbia Crest, Domaine Ste. Michelle, Snoqualmie, Col Solare, Northstar, Spring Valley Vineyards, Erath, Conn Creek and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. They are also the importers of the wines of Antinori. The company has quickly grown to rank among the top ten premium wine companies in America and sells more than 30 million bottles of wine annually. The Wine Advocate said,” Chateau St Michelle, Washington's largest winery, continues to demonstrate that being big is not incompatible with high quality.” We tasted 11 red wines from Ste Michelle Wine Estates. Grape varieties included: Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. La Braccesca Sabazio, Rosso di Montepulciano 2006 was the favorite of flight I. Columbia Crest Grand Estate Syrah 2003 was the favorite Syrah, Chateau St Michelle Indian Wells Merlot 2005 was the favorite Merlot. Villa Mt Eden Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 was the favorite Cabernet Sauvignon. Conn Creek Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 placed second. Flight I: Red Votes Full Retail Price $ Erath Pinot Noir - 2007 90% from Willamette valley, 10% Umpqua valley, aged briefly in 10% new French and Oregon oak. Light color, fresh forward fruit, Black cherry aromas, strawberry, red berries, black cherry flavors. Drink now. Delightful. 10 $19.00 La Braccesca Sabazio, Rosso di Montepulciano 2006 85% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Merlot,and 5% Canaiolo, aged for 4 years in large oak barrels. Ruby red color, intense nose of mature red berry fruit. It is well balanced and pleasing on the palate. The favorite of the flight. 19 $15.00 Flight II: Syrah Votes Full Retail Price $ Snoqualmie Syrah 2003 Floral bouquet and smooth, silky long finish. Hints of apricot and caramel linger in your mouth. High acidity. 9 $12.99 Columbia Crest Grand Estate Syrah 2003 Big nose, rich in aromas of spice, butterscotch and pear. Big wine, very long finish. The favorite of this flight. 21 $13.99 Flight III: Merlot Votes Full Retail Price $ Chateau St Michelle Indian Wells Merlot 2005 This vineyard is located at the base of the Wahluke slope in the Columbia Valley. A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Syrah, aged for 16 months in American and French oak. Ripe black fruit aromas and jammy flavors. Full-bodied, fruity style of warm climate Merlot with a round, soft finish. The favorite of this flight. 17 $19.99 Chateau St Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot 2005 Single Vineyard. A blend of 98% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 18 months in French and American oak. Black cherry fruit on nose and palate. Medium bodied, Soft finish. Elegant. 12 $23.99 Flight IV: Cabernet Sauvignon Votes Full Retail Price $ Hawk Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 2nd label of Stag Leap Wine Cellars. Grapes: Blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged 12 months in French oak. Dark color. Aromas of red currant fruit and cocoa powder and earth. Flavors of red currant, dark chocolate and walnuts. Long vanilla oak finish. 6 $16.99 Vina Haras de Pirque Character Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – Chile 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Haras de Pirque own vineyards, Maipo Valley. Grapes were hand picked in April. The parcels selected for the Character line undergo intense hand management throughout the year to produce grapes of high quality. After the wines are pressed off skins, they are racked into barrel for undergoing malolactic fermentation. After 14 months in new French oak and one year old barrels, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration.14.5% Alcohol. Deep red color. Excellent fruit concentration, ripe black berries and dried fruits in the mouth combined with a complex and elegant attack. This wine presents a spicy long finish with toffee and chocolate. Drink now to 2012. 13 $21.99 Villa Mt Eden Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 2% Malbec. The grapes are from the Yountville district of Napa Valley. Spiced black plum aromas intermixed with caramel cherry flavors. On the palate, subtle oak nuances and earthy currant characters combine to present a richly textured tapestry reflective of its Napa Valley roots. Long finish. The favorite of this flight. 21 $16.99 Conn Creek Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Syrah aged for 26 months in new and 1 yr old French oak. Aromas of dried cherries, sandalwood and vanilla lead to sweet currants and cocoa flavors. Elegant and smooth yet complex with dense fruit and a long finish. The second favorite of this flight. 16 $27.99 Chateau St Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Grape variety: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot 9% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec. Aged 16 months in American and French oak. Winemaker Bob Bertheau’s goal is to produce a softer mouth feel and enhanced complexity in the red wines, while highlighting Washington fruit character. Concentrated red fruit in an accessible style. This is an “everyday” Cabernet with plenty of complexity and structure. 2 $7.99 Top