Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Merlot

Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Merlot is a 750ml, 14% ABV Washington State Merlot from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in the Columbia Valley. This single-vineyard expression has earned Wine Spectator Top 100 recognition, and over 40 vintages of Canoe Ridge wines have scored 90 points or higher from major publications, including a 91-point rating from Wine Enthusiast for the 2017 vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Columbia Valley, Washington State  |  Blend: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle

Production & Heritage

Chateau Ste. Michelle, founded in 1934, is Washington State's founding winery and its most decorated. The Canoe Ridge Estate vineyard sits on the south face of a ridge rising 950 feet above sea level in the Horse Heaven Hills, planted in ancient soils formed by catastrophic flood deposits more than 10,000 years old. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 16 to 18 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels — both new and neutral — giving the finished wine layered complexity without overwhelming the fruit. This vineyard-designated bottling stands apart from the winery's broader Columbia Valley offerings by channeling the specific terroir of Canoe Ridge, where persistent winds and warm days produce concentrated, deeply colored fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with dark plum and blood orange before revealing layers of cedar, baking spice, and a subtle graphite minerality. Beneath those primary notes, hints of coffee and smoke emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: On entry, ripe black plum and currant flood the palate with generous concentration. The mid-palate introduces red cherry and red currant flavors that are plush and full-bodied, supported by silky, elegant tannins that give the wine its broad-shouldered structure. The 5% Cabernet Sauvignon adds a spine of firmness without disrupting the Merlot's inherent suppleness.

Finish: The finish is long and stylish, carrying lingering notes of seared oak, dark fruit, and a faint trace of smoke. Tannins resolve smoothly, leaving a clean, polished close.

How to Drink Canoe Ridge Merlot

This wine is best enjoyed at cellar temperature (60–65°F) and benefits from 20 to 30 minutes of decanting to let the oak and fruit fully integrate. It drinks beautifully on its own alongside a meal. For cocktail-adjacent exploration: a Kalimotxo (equal parts red wine and cola over ice) works surprisingly well with a fruit-forward Merlot of this weight; a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and a citrus twist lightens the body for warm-weather drinking; and a classic Sangria benefits from the wine's concentrated plum and cherry character as a rich base.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a serious but approachable red wine
• Gifting to someone exploring premium Washington State wines
• Pairing with a grilled steak or roasted lamb dinner
• Building a cellar of vineyard-designated Pacific Northwest wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Canoe Ridge Merlot taste like? It delivers ripe black plum, currant, and cherry flavors with baking spice and cedar undertones, all framed by silky tannins and a full-bodied, polished texture.

How does Canoe Ridge Merlot compare to Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot? Both wines come from Washington State's Columbia Valley under the same parent company, but Canoe Ridge is a vineyard-designated bottling from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, aged longer in oak (16–18 months) and positioned as a premium-tier expression. Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a value-tier blend sourced from broader Columbia Valley vineyards, typically lighter in structure and concentration.

Is Canoe Ridge Merlot good for sipping neat? Yes — its silky tannins, balanced oak, and concentrated fruit make it an excellent wine for drinking on its own, especially after a brief decant to let the aromatics fully develop.

Where is Canoe Ridge Merlot made? The grapes are grown at the Canoe Ridge Estate vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, a sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley in southeastern Washington State. Chateau Ste. Michelle, the producing winery, is headquartered in Woodinville, Washington.

What foods pair well with Canoe Ridge Merlot? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's cedar and dark fruit weight. Braised lamb shanks echo its baking spice and plum notes. Aged cheddar or Gouda amplifies the oak-driven richness. Mushroom risotto bridges the earthy, savory undertones. Dark chocolate desserts match the wine's deep fruit concentration without overpowering the tannins.

What sizes does Canoe Ridge Merlot come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Canoe Ridge Merlot worth the price? Canoe Ridge Merlot positions as a premium vineyard-designated expression within Chateau Ste. Michelle's portfolio, sitting above the winery's Columbia Valley tier but below limited-production reserve wines. Given its consistent 90+ point track record and single-vineyard sourcing, it delivers strong value in the premium Washington Merlot category.

Why Canoe Ridge Merlot?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of Washington Merlots is specificity of place. The Canoe Ridge Estate vineyard — perched at 950 feet on ancient flood-deposit soils — produces fruit with a concentration and structural depth that generic Columbia Valley blends rarely match. Multiple vintages have earned 90+ scores from publications including Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator, the latter placing it on its prestigious Top 100 list. For anyone seeking a vineyard-designated Washington Merlot with a proven track record across dozens of vintages, Canoe Ridge remains one of the most reliable expressions in the state.