2006 Columbia Valley Tempestade - Limited Release -- Chateau Ste. Michelle Shopping Cart
$19.99
-- Vintage Reserve Concert Wine - Special Club Member Offer
delivers pronounced aromas of chocolate, coffee and spice.
We are offering Vintage Reserve Club members the opportunity to purchase the wines featured at the Vintage Reserve Concerts at a 30% discount from today until August 31, 2010. If you are not a Vintage Reserve Club member, join today and enjoy all the benefits of the club!
Club Members - please log in to receive your discount.
It is becoming commonplace for houses in Portugal to make table wines out of what have traditionally been made into Ports and fortified Port-style wines. These varieties tend to be big and brawny with massive color and extraction wines that can be cellared for long periods of time. We happen to have a small amount of some Portuguese varieties planted at our iconic Cold Creek Vineyard. These varieties include Touriga National, Souzo, Tinta Madeira and Tinta Co. The resulting blend is fruit driven and powerful to say the least! A glass of this and your teeth will be purple guaranteed!
WINEMAKER NOTES
"This is the second Tempestade Red Wine from Chateau Ste. Michelle. Sourced from Portuguese varietals in our Cold Creek vineyard, this earthy wine delivers pronounced aromas of chocolate, coffee and spice. On the palate, the Tempestade is dense and full, with a rich, layered finish. It is a very bold wine not for the timid."
VINTAGE- 2006 was a year of extremes in weather.
- A cooler than normal, wet spring was followed by a very long, hot summer.
- The weather was nearly ideal during the growing season. Summer fell into a consistent pattern of dry weather, warm days and cool nights.
- Harvest began early, with some white grapes being picked in late August.
- A cool spell in mid-September slowed things down and allowed more hang time for enhanced flavor development.
VINEYARDS- Planted in the early 1970s, Cold Creek Vineyard is one of Washington's oldest and most acclaimed vineyards.
- The vineyard is located 38 miles east of Yakima, Washington, south of the Columbia River and Wahluke Slope.
- Cold Creek Vineyard enjoys one of the longest and warmest growing seasons in the Columbia Valley.
- The site's silty loam soil and the area's low annual rainfall force the vines to struggle, producing fruit with intense, concentrated flavors and aromas.
WINEMAKING
- Ripe grapes were destemmed, crushed and inoculated with a variety of yeasts for maximum complexity.
- 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 drain the wine off of its skins.
- Aged for 20 months in French and American oak barrels.
TECHNICAL DATA- Alcohol: 14.2%
- Total Acidity: 0.60g /100ml
- pH: 3.80
- Blend: 42% Touriga, 37% Souzao, 10% Tinta Madeira, 6% Tinta Cao
Other products in the category Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine / Columbia Valley:
-
2006 Ethos Merlot --
91 pts Wine Advocate
delivers sweet raspberry and bright black cherry fruit character with elegant, dusty tannins.
-
2008 Muscat Canelli -- a fan favorite in our winery’s retail shop, this wine makes a refreshing aperitif.
-
2008 Viognier -- offers a crisp citrus and ginger finish with just the right amount of body.
-
2006 Malbec -- fruit flavors give way to a caramel and blueberry finish.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Products
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Chateau Ste. Michelle Online Store powered by Nexternal ecommerce solutions