Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin 2005 Review & Tasting Notes

Color & Clarity
The Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin is a deep, dark purple red and has a thick, velvety appearance when you swirl it in the glass.

Nose
The nose of the Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin has clean, positive notes of red fruit, some spice, and maybe a bit of vanilla. On the whole is a very pleasant bouquet.

Palate
The Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin tastes very fruity and is very approachable for a full-bodied red wine. In fact, it's not nearly as dry as you might imagine and it's not too tannic either.

Pairing Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin with Cheeses

• Cheddar Cheese: Paired with cheddar cheese, the Orphelin becomes both fruitier and a bit drier.
• Swiss Cheese: This is a bad pairing because the Orphelin makes the swiss cheese taste way too bitter.
• Aged Gouda: This is a good pairing, with the aged Gouda becoming more aromatic and the Orphelin becoming a bit drier.
• Aged Parmesan: This is a fair paring, with nothing special going on between the Orphelin and the Parmesan.
• Chevre: This is a fair pairing with the Orphelin becoming just a bit drier with the Chevre.

Pairing Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin with Main Dishes

• Hamburger: Pairing hamburger with the Orphelin is decent, with the Orphelin becoming a little more complex in flavor and perhaps a bit smokier as well.
• Hot Dogs: This is a fair pairing, with no special interaction between the hot dog and the Orphelin.
• Bratwurst: This is a positive pairing, with the bratwurst becoming more aromatic when combined with the Orphelin.
• Steak: Pairing the Orphelin with stake makes the wine drier and fruitier.
• Roast Turkey: Although turkey doesn’t usually pair with dry red wines, the Orphelin works quite well and becomes drier and smoother.
• Rosemary Potatoes: The Orphelin becomes drier and smoother when paired with rosemary potatoes, possibly because of the salt.