Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling 2004

Tasting Notes:
“Fans of Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling can count on our Columbia Valley Riesling to be an inviting, easy to drink, off-dry Riesling vintage after vintage. With the 2004 bottling, we took the word “Johannisburg” off the label, but rest assured that the wine style didn’t change. This Riesling consistently delivers classic Washington state Riesling characters of juicy peach, apricot, ripe pear and sweet citrus, with subtle slate and mineral notes. This is our everyday Riesling that is versatile and simply a pleasure to drink.”

Vintage:
- 2004 will go on recorc s one of the best vintages in the Washington wine industry’s history in terms of quality.
- A hot growing season followed by a cool fall created a longer harvest, resulting in wines with ripe, rich flavors.
- Cool fall temperatures extend hang time with final berries being picked in early Nov.
- The cool harvest season and extended ripening period particularly benefited Riesling, resulting in Rieslings with aromatic, ripe fruit character with added elegance and complexity.

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So this wine is my all-time favorite — i don’t usually drink white, but I love Chateau Ste Michelle. I was first introduced to it by my friend Albert who had it at his house one night, about 7 years ago. I was a wine amature at the time, not really knowing the difference between 2-buck chuck, and a $50 dollar Robert Mondavi Red. But when I tasted Chateau Ste Michelle, I was hooked. There is a fruity balance in this amazing wine, that I find is off in other Rieslings. Gilbert also feels the same way about this. We had both tried several other rieslings, and none would match by far, the balance in acidity, sweetness and smoothness that Chateau Ste Michelle has to offer.

And this wine is SO REASONABLY PRICED too! At Gordeon Beirsh, a glass would be as much as $6.00, at Ralphs in LA, or Safeway in SF, it could go up as much as $8.99, but my favorite place to purchase it is either at Trader Joes or Target (yes, Targ-Jaaaaaay!) for a very reasonable $5.99 a pop.