For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes. Scents of dark plum and cherry are joined by herbal high tones, smoky black tea, as well as suggestions of sea breeze in Ste Michelle’s 2007 Merlot Cold Creek Vineyard, all anticipating a juicy, bittersweet, faintly medicinal pit- and salt-tinged palate impression. With a flatteringly polished feel and next-sip compelling combination of primary fruit juiciness; herbal pungency; and salinity, this finishes with aplomb and promises to drink well for another several years. Tel. (425) 488-1133

The 2007 Merlot Cold Creek Vineyard is a deeper purple with a nose of pain grille, pencil lead, Asian spices, violets, cassis, and black cherry. Spicy on the palate with notes of oregano and rosemary, plenty of savory red and black fruits, and a medium-long finish, it will provide pleasure over the next 5-6 years. Chateau Ste. Michelle continues to produce large quantities of quality wine at exceptionally fair prices.www.ste-michelle.com

A full-throttle effort, with big flavor swashes of blackberry, cassis, black pepper, coffee grounds and ripe tannins. This is Cold Creek Merlot at its most powerful; the 35-year-old vines are in their prime and the flavors show it. Few American Merlots—indeed few in the world—can stand on their own and deliver a wine this complete and powerful. It needs more years to knit together, but no worries—this is a 20-year wine.——P.G.(7/1/2011)—— 94