For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes. The Ste. Michelle 2005 Merlot Canoe Ridge Estate – when tasted alongside its latest, 2010, counterpart and other of its successors – impresses with how youthfully vivacious and full of sappy, primary dark berry fruit it retains. Toasted nuts, high-toned green herbs, smoky black tea, crushed stone, humus, iodine and salt add mouthwatering intrigue, while the sweetness of fruit, not in the least superficial, persists through a long, lip-smacking finish. Lucky any who have this in their cellars or who can find bottles lying forgotten somewhere in the marketplace! These Canoe Ridge bottlings serve as vivid reminders of how impressive and age-worthy Merlot can be in this part of the world, and in the present instance – rather exceptionally – we have 98% Merlot with a jot of Cabernet Sauvignon as the sole blending component. Tel. (425) 488-1133

The 2005 Merlot Canoe Ridge Vineyard is a bit muted aromatically but coaxing reveals notes of cherry and black raspberry. It has a round mouth-feel and an elegant personality with attractive flavors and moderate length. Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington’s largest winery, continues to demonstrate that being big is not incompatible with high quality. The latest set of releases may be the strongest to date.Tel. (425) 415-3300; www.ste-michelle.com

A strong contender for the best $22 Merlot in the country. Sculpted, dense and deeply layered, it’s loaded with mixed blue and black fruits, fresh herb and sweet toast. The use of new oak is restrained and appropriate, extending the finish with nicely applied streaks of coffee around ripe, tight, dry tannins.——P.G.(12/1/2008)—— 91