This week on Beth and Bill’s grapevine we are featuring three more delicious and flavorful wines from the Chateau Ste. Michelle.
These wines will be paired with authentic Italian food from
La Torretta Ristorante in North Scottsdale, in a now road-construction free zone!

2006 Saint M Riesling

Chateau Ste. Michelle is proud to offer Saint M, a German Riesling made by acclaimed winemaker Ernst Loosen, owner of the Dr. Loosen estate, which has a 200-year tradition of producing Riesling in Germany’s Mosel region. With his modern world view and his traditional approach to winemaking, Ernst strives to produce wines that unmistakably express the character of Riesling and of the vineyards where they are grown. Saint M represents a great value in classic Riesling from the Pfalz region. Summers in the Pfalz region are long and warm and rainfall is light, contributing to the region’s ripe fruit character. Grapes harvested in the Pfalz produce Rieslings with substance and finesse.

The 2006 Saint M Riesling is clean and crisp, with medium body and a well-defined, delicate acid structure. It leans toward the classic white peach and green apple flavors. It is a pure, clean Riesling that is a very fun wine to drink!

The blend is 100% Riesling with an alcohol content of 11.0%

2005 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet is sourced from vineyards throughout the Wahluke Slope in Washington state, including our Indian Wells Vineyard. The Indian Wells Cabernet is our warm climate ripe, jammy Cabernet. The 2005 bottling is no exception. The wine exudes sweet blackberry pie and vanilla aromas and favors with loads of complexity. This is our big bold, obvious Cabernet and after just two vintages, it has quickly become a fan favorite. Wonderful Cab from such esteemed growers as Indian Wells, Jones, Washington Fruit and even Cold Creek Vineyard are woven together with a little Syrah to make a wine that says boldly ‘I’m from Washington.’

This wine should be enjoyed in its youth, try it with shish kabobs, a fat iron steak or even with a nibble of dark chocolate.

The blend is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Syrah with an alcohol content of 14.2%

Orphelin 2004 Red Wine

Head Winemaker, Bob Bertheau states, “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.”

The Orphelin label is an interesting endeavor on their part – it is an effort at producing a Rhone style wine from Washington grapes. Check out the blend: 39.5% Syrah, 16.5% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Mouvedre, 6% Sangiovese, 3.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, .5% Souzao, .4% Touriga, .1% Malbec. Alcohol content is 13.8%.

Stop by your local Fry's and Fry's Marketplace, browse their vast selection of Chateau Ste. Michelle wine varietals and bring one home tonight!