09/16/2026
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Today we share the wines from Washington State’s founding winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle. I have long loved enjoying and purchasing these wines for decades. They continue to make wines that offer sensational value. Winemaker Katie Nelson has a longstanding history in our industry. She does a glorious job with producing everything from inky Cabernet to crisp, mineral-filled Riesling wines. She has former stops at Charles Smith and head winemaker at Columbia Crest.
I love the new 2025 Estival Chenin Blanc (OB, 92) which shows sensational texture and finesse. Even better was the 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Impetus’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is a barrel selection wine that has at least a decade of life in front of it. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Chateau Ste. Michelle.
2025 Estival Chenin Blanc- Sourced from several Columbia Valley sites, the 2025 Estival is bright and mineral-laden the palate. Kiwi and cantalope flavors collide with copious stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2025 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling- The great value 2025 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling offers peaches and pear notes on the palate with flinty undertones on the palate. Drink 2026-2031- 89
2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Riesling- Sourced from this stronghold in he Ancient Lakes AVA, the 2024 ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Riesling offers orange blossom and petrol on the nose with pretty white flowers. The palate is bone-dry with great texture and overall tension from this hot vintage. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay- I’ve probably tasted every vintage of this wine for 20 years. The 2024 ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay. This is open, approachable stuff with buttered brioche and pear notes alongside shades of honeycomb on the palate. This is classy stuff for the price. Drink 2026-2031- 90
2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- Straightforward and delicious, the 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay offers pink lady apple and sourdough bread notes alongside good freshness considering the warmth of the vintage. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2030- 90
2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Impetus’ Chardonnay- A barrel selection wine, the 2024 ‘Impetus’ Chardonnay was stored in all French oak before bottling. The palate is rich and powerful with great tension. Layers of melon and tropical fruits combine with citrus blossom water on the palate. The flavor range here is outstanding, as is the weight and bright acidity. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A really nice wine for the price, the 2024 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows sandalwood and dark currents on the nose with a chocolate edge. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel. A killer value, enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine- The 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine comes off soft on the mouth. Mocha and tar flavors mingle well with stony minerals on the palate. This is a terrific value that is best enjoyed now. Drink 2026-2031- 90
2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy and delicious stuff that is drinking marvelously right now. Creme de cassis and wet rock combine with shades of Cuban cigar on the palate. A fabulous wine for the price, showing outstanding texture and weight, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine- The beautiful 2023 ‘Artist Series’ combines Merlot (44%) with Cabernet Franc (36%) and the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Dried herbs and red florals combine with shades of red bell pepper and a dusting of black pepper with blackberry compote on the nose. The palate is beautifully balanced with serious poise and a silky texture. This is just a delicious glass of wine that is already neatly-evolved. Drink 2026-2041- 94
2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Impetus’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Impetus’ Red Wine is an inspired blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Syrah and the remainder Malbec. Jet black in the glass, this delivers terrific flavor density on the mid-palate. Mocha, tar, anise and creme de violette flavors parade with stony minerals on the palate. Powerful and dense, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2043- 95
