5 Chateau Ste Michelle Limited Release Wines Review

Not the $10 wine you thought you knew

Think Chateau Ste Michelle is just about those wallet-friendly $10 wines? Well, you’re not totally off track. Let’s be fair, being a regular staple in the labyrinthine wine aisles of a Costco store doesn’t exactly scream luxury. But that’s just one way to look at it. Chateau Ste Michelle executives’ perspective and claim to fame is that they are the people’s winery. Whether you’re flipping burgers at the backyard BBQ party or hosting a fancy dinner, they’ve got a bottle for you. So, before you lock Chateau Ste Michelle in that “bargain bin” category, think again. With 84 Red and White wines, they’re more versatile than a chameleon at a crayon factory, and we are here to prove it.

About Chateau Ste Michelle

If you are curious to learn more about the storied history of Chateau Ste Michelle, we recommend this article , where we share the most fascinating facts about Chateau Ste Michelle that we sussed out. Keeping it snappy, let’s just say that Chateau Ste Michelle proudly wears the crown as Washington state’s oldest winery and is the pioneer that kick-started the whole winemaking scene in the region.

Up until October 1, 2021, Altria, a tobacco manufacturer, owned Chateau Ste Michelle. That’s a strange and questionable symbiosis if you ask us. 

Turns out Chateau Ste Michelle was not doing that great financially. Fast forward to now, and Chateau has a new owner, Sycamore Partners, at the helm. They are determined to run Chateau Ste Michelle more like a winery business, which, among other things, means that they will no longer truck grapes long distances, often under hot weather conditions. Instead, the grapes will be processed closer to where they are picked. Can these new owners navigate the stormy waters and transform Chateau Ste Michelle’s fate? Only time will tell.

Why these wines

All wines featured in this review were part of the wine tasting that we enjoyed during our recent Chateau Ste Michelle grand estate tour. If you’re curious about this tour and wondering if you should check it out for yourself, you can find out more about what to expect here , Without further delay, let’s jump right into those reviews!

Chateau Ste Michelle 2022 Eroica Riesling wine tasting notes and food pairing ideas

The grapes used in this wine come from the Columbia Valley, known for its cooler climate. Eroica, both the current and past versions, is a product of teamwork between Chateau Ste Michelle and German Riesling winemaking powerhouse, Dr. Loosen.

Named after Beethoven’s Third Symphony, Eroica often hits the high 90+ points mark and gets good wine critics’ reviews.

At $22, it’s a good deal, though it doesn’t quite scream 90+ wine to us. If you’re up north in Canada, brace yourself for a price hike to $40-/+ (CAD). This price doesn’t make it as appealing. You’ve got better local options (like Tantalus Riesling) that won’t break the bank.

Now, for the food pairings. Chateau Ste Michelle served up Phyllo brie bites with a touch of seasonal preserves as a pairing suggestion. It’s simple, but it didn’t exactly blow us away.
Instead, we recommend pairing it with Rookworst and a bit of cabbage or Malaysian satays for a bit of a flavour kick.
Another option: Stuffed Peppers. Cabbage rolls are a solid alternative too.

Stay tuned for our upcoming September newsletter, where we’ll unravel the genuine Ukrainian cabbage rolls. Subscribe here and get ready to roll!

Chateau Ste Michelle 2019 GV Chardonnay wine tasting notes and food pairing ideas

The grapes for this wine are sourced straight from Chateau Ste Michelle’s Yakima Valley vineyard. The wine was aged for a full year in French oak barrels.

The Chateau’s winemaking team is pretty enthusiastic about this Chardonnay, proclaiming it might be their best one yet. Interestingly, they’ve kept it on the down-low – you won’t find it in stores, the winery shop, or online. It’s only up for grabs by Chateau Ste Michelle club members and visitors who opt for the Grand Estate Tour package.

You might think that, given the chance, everyone would want to snag a bottle. Well, we had a different take and decided to pass on the opportunity. Wondering why? For us, the wine tasted like it had had a bit too much oak influence. It brought to mind those days when California Chardonnays were leaning heavily on that toasty, buttery style. While we appreciate a well-oaked Chardonnay, we also value balance. We want to taste the fruit rather than the vessel used for making it.

Unfortunately, this Chardonnay felt more like a French oak barrel party than a fruity wine fiesta.

So, with a hint of regret, we decided to give this one a pass.

For the food pairing, Chateau Ste Michelle went with cheddar cheese, prosciutto, and basil pesto. Let’s just say it wasn’t the best combo.

What this wine really needs is dishes rich in butter or served with cream-based sauces. Trout with a brown butter pan sauce would be one such good food pairing. Our prosciutto-wrapped chicken with blue cheese compound butter is another good option.

For all the pasta fans, we’ve got a ricotta-filled ravioli with leek soubise sauce coming your way. Stay tuned for the recipe. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when this recipe is added to our recipe collection.
If you’re thinking cheese, a double cream brie with a bit of peach preserve is a good choice

Chateau Ste Michelle 2018 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot tasting notes and food pairing ideas

The grapes for this wine came from the Canoe Ridge Estate vineyard in Columbia Valley. Overall, it’s a good wine, but considering the price, we believe there are better options out there that offer a more robust flavor profile. This is why we consider this wine to be just average.

The winery decided to pair it with a local semi-soft cow milk cheese. The slightly salty nature of the cheese actually worked well with this wine, helping to mellow out its tannins.

If you’re seeking more than just cheese, a nice fillet mignon could step up to the plate. Our recipe for beef tenderloin in red wine sauce would complement this wine particularly well.

Chateau Ste Michelle 2015 Artist Series Red Blend tasting notes and food pairing ideas

100% of the grapes used in this wine are grown in Chateau Ste Michelle’s own Columbia Valley vineyard. The Artist Series is something that could very well be called a Meritage.

What sets this and other wines in the Artist Series apart isn’t just the fancy label that displays the artists’ masterpieces. It’s the fact that these wines are always crafted from the finest hand-harvested grapes from the vineyard. 

This wine is quite enjoyable, and it could easily be a solid choice with a “good” tag assigned to it if the price was a bit more down-to-earth. However, at a steep $85 per bottle, its charm starts to fade.

The $85 price tag raised our eyebrows, especially since this wine was selling for $58 before.

At Chateau Ste Michelle, they teamed this wine with a crostini topped with chevré and a dollop of black olive tapenade. Surprisingly, it was a solid combo. However, if you’re craving something heartier, we’d steer you towards a juicy burger, like our Epic Burger, or a Grilled Beef Flank Steak served with charred tomato jam and crispy potato fries.

Chateau Ste Michelle 2017 Eroica Gold Riesling wine tasting notes and food pairing ideas

All grapes in this wine came from Chateau Ste Michelle’s vineyard in Columbia Valley. About 30% were handpicked, with some reportedly touched by botrytis.

Now, about the price – it’s a good deal for what you’re getting. The alcohol content is on the lower side, making it pretty easy to drink. Someone in the crowd joked about drinking yourself sober on this wine, though we’re not entirely sold on that idea. But it’s definitely the kind of wine you can breeze through in one go. There aren’t many good dessert wine options around, so if you’re looking for something sweet, this fits the bill.

Even though it’s sweet, the wine’s acidity lets it play nice with different foods. It’s not just about the usual suspects like white chocolate and crème brûlée. Try it with tapas like crostini topped with caramelized onion, Raclette cheese and balsamic vinegar glaze, or crostini with figs, goat cheese, prosciutto, and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Out of all the wines we tried, this is the one we ended up taking home.

Conclusion

In the vast sea of wine rating systems, something seems a bit off to us. They all seem to judge wines without considering their price tags, and that just doesn’t quite jive with us.

Think of it this way: You’ve got a $50 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle, both proudly strutting their 92+ ratings. But doesn’t that kind of imply that the $100 wine is actually not as good as the $50 one, simply because they achieved a similarly good wine bouquet for less? It’s like a math problem gone wrong.

This is why we firmly believe that price should be a key player when evaluating wines. If we were to judge these wines solely on their quality, at least three out of these five would earn a solid “good” rating. Yet, when you toss in the money aspect, suddenly, you start wondering if you could get an even more extraordinary wine for your buck. In an instant, a wine that once gleamed as “good” starts losing its luster.

If you broaden your horizons and consider the wines from, say, Chile or Argentina, their red blends and Chardonnays are shaking things up, or even Canada, rapidly catching up, you’ll swiftly realize that these wines, while definitely not bargain bin special, are just average Joe’s in a sea of similar contenders.