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<h1>2008 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon -- Chateau Ste. Michelle Shopping Cart</h1>
<b>$17.99</b>
-- <i><p class="rating">90 pts - Smart Buy: Wine Spectator</p>our warm climate ripe, jammy "New World" style of Cabernet Sauvignon.</i>
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<p><b>TASTING NOTES</b> <br />"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 up front, 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.” -<em>Bob Bertheau, Winemaker</em></p>
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<b>VINTAGE</b><li>A "perfect" ripening season with full crop yields, and restrained sugar levels led to outstanding wines from Washington state’s Columbia Valley in 2008.</li>
<li> Delayed slightly by cool spring weather and a moderate summer, harvest began 10 days later than normal.</li>
<li>Warm weather in August provided ideal ripening conditions for grapes across all varietals and harvest was quickly ramped up in order to obtain fruit at the optimum ripeness.</li>
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<b>VINYARDS</b><li>More than half of the fruit was sourced from vineyards in the Wahluke Slope in Washington state, including our Indian Wells Vineyard.</li>
<li>Our most northern growing area, the Wahluke Slope is bordered on both the west and the south by the Columbia River.</li>
<li>Indian Wells vineyard is a very warm site with a long growing season.</li>
<li>The region is a consistent producer of high quality, ripe fruit, yielding wine with intense color and flavor.</li>
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<b>WINEMAKING</b><li>Ripe grapes were destemmed and inoculated with various strains of yeast to maximize complexity.<br /></li>
<li>Daily gentle pumpovers were used to extract optimal flavor and color and minimize harsh tannins. The pumpovers can vary by block, tank and day of fermentation. Every ferment is tasted every day to evaluate the evolution of the tannins, modify extraction techniques and find the right moment to<br />drain the wine off of its skins.</li>
<li>Aged for 14-16 months in predominately new American and French oak to enhance the sweet mid-palate of the Wahluke<br />Slope fruit.</li>
<li>Syrah from the Wahluke Slope contributed an enhanced jammy fruit character to the wine.</li>
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<b>TECHNICAL DATA</b><li>Alcohol: 14.5%</li>
<li>Total Acidity: 0.53g /100ml</li>
<li>pH: 3.91</li>
<li>Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah, 1% Malbec, 1% Merlot<br /></li>
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<b>FOOD PAIRINGS</b><li><b>Foods:</b>stuffed peppers, blue cheese, duck, beef, veal, dark chocolate</li>
<li><b>Herbs:</b> mustard, paprika, rosemary, thyme</li>
<li><b>Spices:</b> allspice, cloves, ginger, mace, nutmeg</li>
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<p><b>Other products in the category <a href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/Category10" title="Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine">Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine</a> / <a href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/Category12" title="Indian Wells Wine">Indian Wells Wine</a>:</b>
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<a href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/Product364" title="2007 Indian Wells Riesling">2007 Indian Wells Riesling</a> -- ripe, tropical style of Riesling, which comes from warmer sites in Washington’s Columbia Valley.</li></ul>
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<a href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/Product468" title="2008 Indian Wells Chardonnay">2008 Indian Wells Chardonnay</a> -- ...delivers ripe tropical pinapple flavors and showcases the luscious opulence of Washington fruit...</li></ul>
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<a href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/Product414" title="2007 Indian Wells Merlot">2007 Indian Wells Merlot</a> -- offers ripe berry fruit aromas and jammy flavors typical of Wahluke Slope reds.</li></ul>
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<a href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/Product479" title="2008 Indian Wells Merlot">2008 Indian Wells Merlot</a> -- is a full bodied style of warm climate Merlot with a round, supple finish.</li></ul>
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