Château Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Washington State

Here is my #FridayCabernetfix for this week.

This Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Big and fruit forward with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with wood, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, espresso, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins.

This 5 year old is drinking very nicely now. Peaking now, and will be good in the next couple of years.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

A great value wine, if you are patient enough. Very tasty and delicious.

I had it all by itself by the beach.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$18.

Columbia Winery Cellarmaster’s Riesling 2008 Columbia Valley, Washington State

#AgedWineTuesday

A very interesting color of yellow, with an orange tint.

Strong nose of over ripen apples, Indian spices, melons, minerals, honeysuckle, white pepper and cooked lemons.

Medium plus in body and buttery, with medium plus acidity.

Medium sweet on the palate with ripened citrus fruits, lemons, honey, yellow apples, apricots, tropical fruits and white pepper.

Nice length on the finish with spices and limes.

This is a nice surprise. A delicious 12 year old Riesling from Washington State. Rich and expressive.

Nicely balanced with enough acidity to balance the sugars. Delicious by itself and the tangy finish makes it interesting.

Although it is still very enjoyable, it is on the decline now, and was probably better a few years ago.

Thank you David and Elvira for sharing this with me. Tasty and delicious.

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

10% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

Tranche Estate Pape Estate 2017 Columbia Valley, Washington State

Dark purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, bing cherries, sweet strawberries, wood, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, dried figs, tobacco leaf, earth, leather, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, light earth and peppercorn.

Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Syrah based Rhone blend from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, but better as it opens up and shows the tannins and structure. Would be nice to revisit it in a couple of years.

Fruit forward with nice complexity. A good quality wine. Spicy, tasty and tangy.

I paired it with a beautiful view, but was even better with the Brie cheese.

A blend of 51% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 19% Grenache. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$35.

Château Ste Michelle Winery Ethos Columbia Valley Reserve Chardonnay 2015, Washington State

Light golden in color.

Strong nose of lemons, citrus, yellow apples, light oak, spices, black pepper and light vanilla.

Full bodied and buttery with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, red apples, melons, pears, herbs, vegetables, earth, wood, spices, vanilla and white pepper.

Nice finish with spices and almonds.

This is a very nice, slightly aged, Oaky Chardonnay from Washington State. Showing a nice mouthfeel with mild complexity. Rich, yet refreshing. Feels like a Napa Chardonnay.

Wine Enthusiasts 88 points. Wine Advocate 90 points.

This 5 year old is good by itself or with food, and better nicely chilled. Would be interesting to see how it evolves in the next 3 years.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged in French oak barrels (34% new) for 10 months.

14.5 % alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$40.

Sinclair Estate Vineyards Columbia Valley Pentatonic Red Wine 2013, Washington State

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

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

Fruity nose of blueberries, black currants, wood, vanilla, cola, earth, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco and metals.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, wood, earth, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, bitter herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead and dark chocolates.

Medium plus in finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a nice Merlot based Bordeaux Blend from Washington State. Easy drinking and tangy.

This 7 year old is Nicely balanced with mild complexity and is peaking now. Elegant, gracious and soft.

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

Thank you Wendy for sharing this with me.

I paired it with cheeses and fresh vegetables.

A blend of 53% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. A very small production of only 19 barrels.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$40.

Château Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Washington State

Dark ruby/Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Great fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, mocha, coffee, black pepper, earth and light vegetables.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, earth, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha and coke.

Nice spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 5 year old Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the complexity, but good right out of the bottle.

Wine Spectator 90 points.

This is a very nice wine for under $20.

I paired it with a cheese plate and fresh fruits.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$16.

Château Ste Michelle Indian Wells Merlot 2015, Washington State

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here’s a nicely priced one from Washington State.

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

Strong nose of blackberries, cooked plums, raisins, dried fruits, oak, spices, vanilla, peppercorn, light vegetables, pencil lead, light alcohol, chocolates, herbs and light earth.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, black cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium length on the finish with fine tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a nice Merlot from Washington State. Big and fruit forward with nice complexity, now. A good sipping wine and good for parties.

Showing a tangy finish with nice spices.

Needed an hour in a decanter to open up properly, so take your time.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$14.

Wines of Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Washington State

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and pencil lead.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Drinking nicely now as a 3 years old.

Fruit forward with nice balance. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows the tannins (45 minutes).

Nice enough to drink by itself, but pairs nicely with food too.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$17.

Château Ste Michelle Indian Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Columbia Valley, Washington State

Dark ruby in color with a short purple/ reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, black plums, cherry pie, spices, oak, vanilla, mint, chocolates, dark coffee, black pepper, earth and leather.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, light vegetables, vanilla, licorice, herbs, beef jerky, dark chocolates and coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Washington Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. I really liked the length on the finish.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (one hour), and shows the complexity.

Drinking very nicely now and will be better in a couple of years.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$18.

Canoe Ridge Vineyard Red Blend 2015 Columbia Valley, Washington State

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, spices, peppercorn, chocolates and light barnyard.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, spices, wood, vanilla, cloves, green vegetables, dark coffee, chocolates, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a simple Red Blend from Columbia Valley. Fruit forward with light earth notes. Very drinkable though.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (30 minutes).

13.9% alcohol by volume.

86 points.

$17.