Wine of the week: Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

We at team db want to celebrate the very best bottles from our Global Masters. Every Wednesday, we’ll select a wine that picked up either a Gold or Master from our competition series, and tell you why the judges loved it.

We’ve just finished judging our 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, so we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and bring your attention to a bottle from Washington’s Columbia Valley that stood out from last year.

This Cab Sav, from Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington state, was bottled to mark the winery’s 50th birthday, and though it’s predominantly made with Cabernet Sauvignon, the finished wine is a blend featuring Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Château Ste. Michelle is Washington’s Founding Winery, and is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the Columbia Valley.

Editor-in-chief and db‘s resident MW, Patrick Schmitt, praised the Cab blended for its “inviting” aromas combining vanilla, olives and sweet black fruit. On the palate, it is “balanced, interesting and layered; with youthful blackcurrant, a touch of tapenade, and some toast and chocolate too”.

The wine: Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

The source: Columbia Valley AVA, Washington, USA

The grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Merlot (6%), Syrah (4%), Malbec (1%), Cabernet Franc (1%), Petit Verdot (1%)

The style: A blended, full-bodied red

The price: £15-20

The medal: Master – The Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, 2018