2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Ethos Reserve
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Tasting notes
This has plenty of rich, dark-green herbs and black fruit with iodine and cherries. The palate has a very assertive and linear feel to the palate. A lot of tannin, but nicely honed. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot and 2% syrah. Drink or hold.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Full ruby-red. Raspberry, blackberry, spicecake and bitter chocolate on the nose. Suave, fine-grained and sweet, showing lovely framing energy to its dark raspberry, licorice and spice flavors. The chocolate note returns on the finish, which features dustier tannins than those of the Artist Series red. A bit more savory and not quite as deep as that wine, showing a slightly medicinal bitter chocolate and licorice quality on the aftertaste. This tightly wound Cabernet calls for cellaring.
One of the gems in the lineup is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Ethos Reserve, which incorporates 11% Merlot and 2% Syrah. It's fresh and elegant, with textbook Cabernet notes of cassis, graphite, crushed violets and spice. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and textured on the palate, it has sweet tannin and nicely integrated acidity. It, too, is going to keep for a decade or more.