2004 Artist Series Meritage

$52.00 -- "...aromas of black cherry, plum and cedar, with elegant tannins..."

Purchase 2004 Artist Series Meritage

Very limited supply of 3-bottle boxed sets also available

The Art of Wine
Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Artist Series Meritage red wine celebrates the inspired collaboration between artisan winemaking and fine art. This twelfth vintage of Artist Series Meritage showcases the work of Northwest artist Alden Mason. For over half a century, Alden Mason has reflected his private world of improvisation, spontaneity and humor in painting. The images are often figurative, organic personal totems which in closer view become highly abstract. His works are a reflection of his lifelong travels and interest in tribal art. For more information about the artist, visit fosterwhite.com.

Tasting Notes
"The 2004 Artist Series Meritage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot from the Columbia Valley. Each variety contributes a special attribute to the blend, resulting in a complex wine with aromas of black cherry, plum and cedar, with elegant tannins and rich concentrated flavors and a lingering finish." -Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

Vintage

A hot growing season in 2004 followed by a cool fall created a longer harvest, resulting in wines with ripe, rich flavors.
Hot, dry weather from bud break to mid-August prompted the earliest harvest start on record, beginning August 16.
Cool temperatures and intermittent light rain in mid-September slowed ripening and extended hang time.
Warm temperatures and dry weather resumed in early October through harvest’s end with final berries being picked in early November.

Vineyards

Half of the fruit for the blend came from our vineyard at Canoe Ridge Estate in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
46% of the fruit was sourced from premium vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley, including our Cold Creek Vineyard.
Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually.
Warm, sunny days and cool evening temperatures create ideal conditions for intense aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes.
A small amount of Petit Verdot (4%) from the Wahluke Slope added intense color and concentrated fruit.

Winemaking

Fermented in small lots for maximum flexibility during blending.
Twice daily pumpovers for optimal flavor and color extraction.
Gravity racked to clarify and soften the wine.
Aged for 20 months in French, American and Hungarian oak barrels, 73% new.

Heritage of Acclaim
****, Four stars-Restaurant Wine (2002 vintage)
91 points, The Wine Advocate (2001 vintage)
90 points, Wine Spectator (2000 vintage)

Technical Data
Alcohol..........14.0%
Total............0.62g /100ml
Acidity..........pH 3.72
Blend............51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 11% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot

*Actual label varies depending on inventory.

Purchase 2004 Artist Series Meritage

Other products in the category Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine / Red Wines:

2003 Columbia Valley Syrah -- The 2003 Syrah is a fruit-driven wine with ripe berry and exotic spice characters.

2003 Ethos Merlot -- "Power, concentration, complexity, refinement..."
6 bottle purchase limit

2004 Artist Series Boxed Set -- Three Bottle Collectors Box
Includes one each of the three different Artist Series labels

2004 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot -- Winter 2007 Selection
"complex aromas of black cherries, leather, dried herbs"

2004 Chateau Ste Michelle Red Blend Orphelin -- "On the palate, candied cherries and ripe strawberries abound offering an enticing, complex mouthfeel and a smiling finish"

2004 Cold Creek Syrah -- "The wine exhibits a full, rich and chewy midpalate with a long, savory finish."

2004 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon -- The 2004 Cab delivers aromas of blackberries and boysenberry preserves with vanilla and cedar notes.

2004 Ethos Merlot -- "Black cherry, plum, cocoa, leather, cedar and dried herb aromas..."

2005 Artist Series Meritage -- This is the ultimate sculpted wine, showcasing the power and elegance of Washington fruit.

2005 Artist Series Meritage - Box Set -- This is the ultimate sculpted wine, showcasing the power and elegance of Washington fruit.

2005 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon -- "...delivers black cherry fruit, spicy oak, leather and sweet caramel characters."

2005 Canoe Ridge Estate Syrah -- This elegant Syrah is smoky and earthy on the nose, and bursts with bright marionberry flavors wrapped in silky tannins.

2005 Chateau Ste Michelle Red Blend Orphelin -- "On the palate, candied cherries and ripe strawberries abound offering an enticing, complex mouthfeel and a smiling finish"

2005 Col Solare Red Blend 1.5 mL -- "Aromas of black cherry, berry and dark chocolate..."

2005 Col Solare Red Blend 750 mL -- "Aromas of black cherry, berry and dark chocolate..."

2005 Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon -- The 2005 bottling offers dense aromas of boysenberry and brown sugar spice with layers of fruit with nicely integrated, yet very age-worthy, tannins.

2005 Cold Creek Vineyard Merlot -- Cold Creek’s 30-year-old vines deliver big, bold, concentrated Merlot.

2005 Ethos Syrah -- As the pinnacle tier for Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Ethos Syrah offers a rich mouthful of jammy blackberry fruit with layers of complexity and depth.

2005 Grenache -- This exuberant wine exhibits concentrated flavors of bright strawberry with grapefruit notes and a clean finish. Try it with pork tenderloin or a rich salmon dish!”

2005 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon -- The wine exudes sweet blackberry pie and vanilla aromas and flavors with loads of complexity.

2005 Malbec Vineyard Select -- Sweet vanilla, spice and cream grace the nose, while red fruit flavors give way to a caramel and blueberry

2005 Red Blend Austral -- Dark fruit flavors and strawberry notes greet the palate and finishes with hints of cigar box and earthy tannins.

2005 Red Blend Boreal -- This wine finishes with a silky texture, brisk tannins and wonderful complexity.

2005 Wahluke Slope Syrah -- Hints of warm boysenberry fruit and roasted espresso grace this soft Syrah.

2006 Cinsault -- "...pomegranate fruit flavors enhanced by a zesty, white pepper spice."

2007 Nellie's Garden Dry Rose

2003 Indian Wells Merlot -- This is a lush and fleshy Merlot loaded with jammy, blackberry flavors..."

2004 Indian Wells Merlot -- The 2004 Indian Wells Merlot displays ripe black cherry aromas and jammy flavors integrated with layers of star anise.

2004 Columbia Valley Merlot -- The wine shows complex aromas of black cherries, red licorice and a touch of cedar. The voluminous yet racy midpalate emphasizes sweet fruit, with a lingering cherry finish.