<H1>Stella Maris Red Wine 2003, Columbia Valley -- Northstar Winery Shopping Cart</H1>
<B>$29.00</B>
-- <I>The latest release of this popular Northstar Red Wine<br>"Concentrated blackberry, blueberry and a hint of dusty malt..."</I>
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<p><b>Tasting Notes</b>
<br>Rich and accessible, this wine combines a supple, smooth structure, typical of
the Walla Walla appellation, with the jammy, ripe fruit-forwardness of the
Columbia Valley. Concentrated blackberry, blueberry and a hint of dusty malt
are featured. This full-bodied wine leads into a velvety-silky finish.
<p><b>Vintage Overview</b>
<ul><li>The 2003 growing season began with a normal bud break-to-bloom cycle
in early April.</li>
<li> Warm, dry and constant weather conditions during the summer months
created uniform berry maturation.</li>
<li> Hot temperatures during the waning days of summer created excellent
ripening conditions.</li>
<li> Modest spells of cooling precipitation in September ensured physiological
maturity and flavor development at harvest.</li></ul></p>
<p><b>Vineyards</b>
<ul><li>Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Syrah are sourced from the best
vineyard sites within the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley.</li>
<li> Vines are five to 20 years old and yield grapes with concentrated varietal
flavors of cherry and plum.</li>
<li> Fruit from eight different vineyard sites and 14 individual lots contribute to
the final blend.</li></ul></p>
<p><b>Winemaking</b>
<ul><li>At harvest, grapes were destemmed and crushed leaving 25% whole
berries intact.</li>
<li> Lots were inoculated with Premier Cuvée and Fermirouge yeasts and fermented
separately for five days with daily punch downs.</li>
<li> The wine was racked into barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging.
Lots were racked at three month intervals for clarity.</li>
<li> The barrel regime features 60% French oak and 40% American oak with
65% new oak.
<li> The blend was created after 17 months in the barrel.</li></ul></p>
<p><b>TECHNICAL DATA</b>
<ul><li>Total acidity 0.66 g/100ml</li>
<li>pH 3.72</li>
<li>Alcohol 14.5%</li>
<li>Blend 47% Cabernet Sauvignon,
45% Merlot,
4% Malbec, 4% Syrah</li></P>
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<LI>SKU: 14834
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