Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Indian Wells 2007- WS90 $11.95

If you’re looking for a wine label that delivers incredible value year after year, look no further than Washington state’s Chateau Ste. Michelle.  They produce millions of bottles of wine every year but somehow they deliver quality that’s really unmatched at the price.

Produced largely from a single vineyard in the Wahluke Slope region of Eastern Washington (pictured below), this wine has a dark inky appearance in the glass and an aromatic nose.  On the palate it’s chocolaty, rich and broad with impressive texture for a wine in this price range.  The fruit is nicely framed by the new French and American oak in which it was aged, a luxury almost never seen in Cabernet under $20.  The lengthy finish wraps up an all around great package from Chateau Ste. Michelle.

With 75,000 cases (that’s 900,000 bottles) produced, it’s great to see another high volume, high quality wine come out of Washington.  Along with Columbia Crest, whom they own, Chateau Ste. Michelle is leading the way in bringing Washington to the forefront of the American wine industry.  Many wines produced at these volumes rely on gimmicky labels to sell the cheap crap inside the bottle.  Chateau Ste. Michelle focuses on what’s inside the bottle and they are being rewarded by savvy consumers like the readers of this blog!

Buy Here: Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet 2007 $11.95

Wine Spectator 90 points

“Polished, round and generous, offering a plush mouthful of blackberry, cherry and mint flavors that ride easily over fine tannins through the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2015. 75,000 cases made.”