Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Merlot

Color: Brilliant ruby ​​to garnet red. Aroma: Refined bouquet with clear cherry fruit and fragrant aromas of plums and berries, underpinned by delicate spice notes (cloves). Taste: Silky, round, and full-bodied on the palate, with medium body, soft tannins, and the juicy, spicy fruit of the bouquet. The finish is aromatic, very elegant, and long-lasting. A highly delicate Merlot and an exceptionally versatile food pairing! To perfectly express the characteristic soft richness and elegance of the Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot grapes in the wine, Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Bob Bertheau gently crushes the fully ripened and destemmed grapes and ferments them with selected yeasts. During this process, the pomace is submerged daily with the wine to extract a maximum of color pigments, aromas, and soft tannins from the grape skins. The Canoe Ridge Merlot is tasted regularly during this period to monitor the development of aromas and tannins. At precisely the right moment, the wine is racked off the lees and placed in French and American oak barrels for approximately 18 months of aging. Regular racking aerates the wine during barrel aging, resulting in even softer tannins and an aromatic, smooth richness on the palate.