Chateau Ste. Michelle

Indian Wells Columbia Valley Merlot

8.8589 ratings
8.823 pro ratings
Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Merlot
Beef, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, Exotic Spices, Lamb, White Rice, Baking Spices, Herbs, Pasta, Chicken, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Pork, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
"Odedi"

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

This 7 year old Merlot from Washington State, is still drinking nicely, although starting to decline a bit.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, oak, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf and herbs.

Soft tannins on the tangy finish.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle.

Fruit forward and tasty. Tangy, spicy and interesting.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20.

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

This 7 year old Merlot from Washington State, is still drinking nicely, although starting to decline a bit.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, oak, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf and herbs.

Soft tannins on the tangy finish.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle.

Fruit forward and tasty. Tangy, spicy and interesting.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20.

Mar 2nd, 2023
"Odedi"

It time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with with nice complexity.

Showing plums, sour cherries, raspberries, light oak, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice Merlot from Washington State. Easy drinking and still tasty. Probably on its last leg, so drink up if you have any.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food.

A nice sipping wine. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$15.

It time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with with nice complexity.

Showing plums, sour cherries, raspberries, light oak, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice Merlot from Washington State. Easy drinking and still tasty. Probably on its last leg, so drink up if you have any.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food.

A nice sipping wine. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$15.

Nov 11th, 2022
"Odedi"

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

This 6 year old Merlot from Washington State is still drinking very nicely.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity, and soft tannins on the finish.

Showing blackberries, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, black pepper, dates, earth, cooked plums, raisins, figs and herbs.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Very tasty and affordable. A good party wine too.

A blend of Merlot with a touch of Syrah.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$16.

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

This 6 year old Merlot from Washington State is still drinking very nicely.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity, and soft tannins on the finish.

Showing blackberries, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, black pepper, dates, earth, cooked plums, raisins, figs and herbs.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Very tasty and affordable. A good party wine too.

A blend of Merlot with a touch of Syrah.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$16.

Jul 21st, 2022
Sipping Fine Wine

Chateau Ste. Michelle, founded in 1934, is the oldest winery in Washington with some of the most mature vineyards in the Columbia Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruit and spice, from the splash of Syrah added. On the palate jammy fruit flavors of cherry and blueberry with a touch of cacao, simple not overly complex. Fine tannins on medium finish ending with fruit and spicy notes. Nice value!

Chateau Ste. Michelle, founded in 1934, is the oldest winery in Washington with some of the most mature vineyards in the Columbia Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruit and spice, from the splash of Syrah added. On the palate jammy fruit flavors of cherry and blueberry with a touch of cacao, simple not overly complex. Fine tannins on medium finish ending with fruit and spicy notes. Nice value!

Jul 7th, 2021
Jonathan Steeves

The 2008 vintage Indian Wells 100% Merlot Yielding from Washington State's Famous Columbia Valley. This wine is Inky deep ruby red with thick slow moving legs, and a thin ruby rim. Aromatics of ripe blackberry, plum, dark cherry, ripe raspberry, vanilla, allspice in the nose and palate. Velvet smooth, tart and rich, this wine leaves a tart cherry and blackberry persistence with a long finish. Medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, medium plus fruits and high alcohol , this wine offers ageability and a drinking window from 2015-2025. Pairs well with Montreal smoked meat, BBQ chicken skewers or for the pescetarian, a wasabi tuna tartare.

The 2008 vintage Indian Wells 100% Merlot Yielding from Washington State's Famous Columbia Valley. This wine is Inky deep ruby red with thick slow moving legs, and a thin ruby rim. Aromatics of ripe blackberry, plum, dark cherry, ripe raspberry, vanilla, allspice in the nose and palate. Velvet smooth, tart and rich, this wine leaves a tart cherry and blackberry persistence with a long finish. Medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, medium plus fruits and high alcohol , this wine offers ageability and a drinking window from 2015-2025. Pairs well with Montreal smoked meat, BBQ chicken skewers or for the pescetarian, a wasabi tuna tartare.

6 people found it helpfulNov 19th, 2015
John Saint John

I like dryer wines so this is wonderful for me it has a boldness to it that I enjoy.

I like dryer wines so this is wonderful for me it has a boldness to it that I enjoy.

5 people found it helpfulApr 15th, 2015
"Odedi"

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a great one from Columbia Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, cherries, cooked plums, wood, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, dark coffee, mocha, earth, leather, coke and black pepper. What a great nose.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates, peppercorn, earth sweet vinaigrette, dark coffee and light mocha.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 4 year old Merlot from Washington State surprised me.
Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

Soft, spicy and smooth. Peaking now, and better now than a year or two ago.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (1 hour).

I paired it with a filet mignon and grilled asparagus.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$20.

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a great one from Columbia Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, cherries, cooked plums, wood, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, dark coffee, mocha, earth, leather, coke and black pepper. What a great nose.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates, peppercorn, earth sweet vinaigrette, dark coffee and light mocha.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 4 year old Merlot from Washington State surprised me.
Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

Soft, spicy and smooth. Peaking now, and better now than a year or two ago.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (1 hour).

I paired it with a filet mignon and grilled asparagus.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$20.

3 people found it helpfulOct 18th, 2018
Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.6

Color: purple red
Nose: not much on the nose
Palate: medium tannins, medium to long finish
Opinion: overall not to bad, very enjoyable and drinkable

Color: purple red
Nose: not much on the nose
Palate: medium tannins, medium to long finish
Opinion: overall not to bad, very enjoyable and drinkable

2 people found it helpfulSep 25th, 2015
James Gerhart

Pizza wine in our cabin with a fire while it's snowing outside. Ripe blue / blackberry with delicious vanilla overlay. Simple but delicious. Great $20 crowd pleaser wine.

Pizza wine in our cabin with a fire while it's snowing outside. Ripe blue / blackberry with delicious vanilla overlay. Simple but delicious. Great $20 crowd pleaser wine.

2 people found it helpfulMar 4th, 2015
"Odedi"

It's time for some Merlot on this#MerlotThursday. Here's a nice one from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, spices, coke and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate and fruity with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth and peppercorn.

Nice length with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Merlot from Washington State. Rich and well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel, spicy and tasty.

This 4 year old is drinking very nicely now. Good by itself or with food.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$14.

It's time for some Merlot on this#MerlotThursday. Here's a nice one from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, spices, coke and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate and fruity with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth and peppercorn.

Nice length with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Merlot from Washington State. Rich and well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel, spicy and tasty.

This 4 year old is drinking very nicely now. Good by itself or with food.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$14.

1 person found it helpfulMar 5th, 2020