Aromas of toast, carob and black raspberry lead to plump fruit and barrel flavors. The bright acid and firm tannins of the vintage provide the frame. Producer Information Chateau Ste. Michelle is the oldest, and one of the most prestigious, wineries in Washington. The company produces a wide range of wines from grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, but it is best known for its high-quality wines made from Riesling. It was founded as the American Wine Growers in 1954 by the merger of two companies that were set up following the repeal of Prohibition in the 1930s: the National Wine Company and the Pomerelle Wine Company. Before the merger, the National Wine Company had planted Vitis vinifera grapes in the Columbia Valley. However it was legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, as a consultant, who introduced higher quality vinifera wines in 1967. These were produced under the name Ste. Michelle Vintners and the first wines released were Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Semillon and Grenache. In 1974, two years before the Judgment of Paris, a blind tasting set up by the Los Angeles Times awarded first place to a Ste. Michelle Vintners Riesling, over wines from Germany and California. This brought national attention to the producer, and cemented Riesling's success in the region. In 1976, the name was changed to Chateau Ste. Michelle. The winery has since achieved international acclaim. Chateau Ste. Michelle has three estate vineyards all in the Columbia Valley AVA – Cold Creek, Horse Heaven and Canoe Ridge. Both the Horse Heaven and Canoe Ridge vineyards are in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, while Cold Creek is just north of the Yakima Valley. A total of 3,500 acres (1416 hectares) are shielded from ample rainfall by the Cascade Mountains allowing estate viticulturists to control grapevine vigor and yield through irrigation. The Single Vineyard collection showcases the unique characteristics and terroir of each of the estate vineyards. However, it is the Impetus that is the flagship of the Ste. Michelle wine portfolio. It is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend with Malbec and Syrah that is barrel-aged for 24 months in 100-percent new French oak. It is released onto the market after bottle-aging for a few years in the winery and will happily cellar for over a decade.
