2004 Chateau Ste Michelle Red Blend Orphelin

$29.99 -- "On the palate, candied cherries and ripe strawberries abound offering an enticing, complex mouthfeel and a smiling finish"

Purchase 2004 Chateau Ste Michelle Red Blend Orphelin

Tasting Notes
“We grow many different Rhone varieties at our Columbia Valley vineyards, many of which don’t have a home when it comes time to blending. These varieties, such as Mourvedre and Grenache, are some of the more interesting varieties winemakers get to work with, and it always seemed a shame to have to blend away these orphans. Orphelin was born by trying to create a true Rhone-style blend from these wines, while showcasing Washington’s true potential for Rhone varieties. The wine bursts with ripe, red fruit and layers of spice and milk chocolate. On the palate, candied cherries and ripe strawberries abound offering an enticing, complex mouthfeel and a smiling finish.”
Bob Bertheau, Winemaker

Vineyards
Sourced from vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley in eastern Washington state. Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually. Warm, sunny days and cool evening temperatures create ideal conditions for intense aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes. Sandy soils with low fertility and low water-holding capacity enable precise control of vine growth.

Winemaking
Ripe grapes were destemmed, crushed and inoculated with various strains of yeast to maximize complexity. Twice daily pumpovers helped extract color and flavor during fermentation. Aged for 20 months in 95% new, French (65%) and American (35%) oak.

Vintage
A hot growing season in 2004 followed by a cool fall created a longer harvest, resulting in wines with ripe, rich flavors. Hot, dry weather from bud break to mid-August prompted the earliest harvest start on record, beginning August 16. Cool temperatures and intermittent light rain in mid-September slowed ripening and extended hang time. Warm temperatures and dry weather resumed in early October through harvest’s end with final berries being picked in early November.

Technical Stats

Total Acidity 0.59 g/100 ml
pH 3.69
Alcohol 13.8%
Blend 39.5% Syrah, 16.5% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Mourvedre, 6% Sangiovese, 3.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, .5% Souzao, .4% Touriga, .1% Malbec

Purchase 2004 Chateau Ste Michelle Red Blend Orphelin

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2005 Malbec Vineyard Select -- Sweet vanilla, spice and cream grace the nose, while red fruit flavors give way to a caramel and blueberry

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2003 Indian Wells Merlot -- This is a lush and fleshy Merlot loaded with jammy, blackberry flavors..."

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