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A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon
By Kori ~ September 20th, 2012.
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 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 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 <=$20
- 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 their white wines are made in Woodinville, all of their red wines are made at Canoe Ridge Estate in eastern Washington. The fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was predominately sourced from vineyards in the Columbia Valley and Wahluke Slope, including Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Indian Wells Vineyard.
“The Indian Wells Cabernet is our warm climate, ripe, jammy ‘New World’ style of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine really typifies the Wahluke Slope region with dark fruit aromas and flavors with hints of vanilla. Vineyards in the area are more than a decade old now and showing character and complexity.†–Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker
2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Syrah, 3% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red in color. Nice nose with chocolate, black fruit, and cinnamon aromas. Blackcurrant, black cherry, chocolate, and leather come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18; Available elsewhere, $13 to $21
Filed under: A Wine for Tonight, American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Red Wine, Washington State Wine, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
