A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc



By Kori ~ January 27th, 2011.

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.

Our selection criteria include:

  • A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
  • A price tag of <=$15
  • Must be widely available

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State’s founding winery with its roots dating back to the repeal of Prohibition. In 1976, Ste. Michelle built a French-style chateau in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. While all of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s vineyards are located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, all of their white wines, including this Sauvignon Blanc, are made in Woodinville.

“The mostly stainless steel fermentation makes this a crisp, refreshing style of Sauvignon Blanc. The wine offers fresh aromas of herbs and lavender with a beautiful floral note. A touch of Semillon is added for richness. This wine would pair well with dishes with cream sauce.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): 89% Sauvignon Blanc and 11% Semillon. Pale straw yellow in color. Fresh aromas of honeysuckle and orange peel on the nose; orange peel, citrus and tropical fruits, and vanilla on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10; Available elsewhere, $8 to $13


Filed under: A Wine for Tonight, American Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Washington State Wine, White Wine, Wines Under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25

Reader's Comments

  1. Renee Keele | January 27th, 2011 at 7:16 am

    I love Chatueau Ste. Michelle! It is my to-go winery becuase they always produce great wines for a super great price! I will have to pick this one up, my husband loves S.B. We just had the Gwertz on Friday. Thanks for the post.

  2. Kori | January 27th, 2011 at 9:55 am

    Renee,
    You are absolutely right; CSM consistently delivers great QPR. Hope you and your husband enjoy the SB. Cheers!

  3. collegeandwine | January 30th, 2011 at 11:18 am

    I want to tell you that I am a big fan of this wine site. I am a college student on a budget and starting from scratch and learning about a subject that I have been fascinated with for a long time: wine. I really do not know much but I refer to this site often for suggestions and I love the layout of the site itself. It is easy to navigate and I like how you describe the wines down to their color. I was wondering what type of wine to buy tonight and you have answered my question, I will be picking up a S.B. to try out for my next post. I have never had any before so I am excited to try something new.

    My site is http://collegeandwine.wordpress.com/

    if you would like to check it out and give me any feedback, I would be extremely appreciative. thank you so much!

  4. Kori | February 2nd, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    collegeandwine,
    Thanks for your kind words. Glad you enjoy our site. Hope you like the SB. Best of luck with your site; I’ll be sure to check it out. Cheers!