2016 Old Vines Riesling

2016 Old Vines Riesling

Year after year we strive to make our Old Vines Riesling a world-class wine - as pure of a reflection of the fruit, our site and the season as we can - and with great respect for this noble variety.

Pale lemon in color, the aromatics are at once intense, yet subtle and complex. From lime leaf and lemon zest to hints of wet slate and chalk, the aromatics are beautifully highlighted by a briny oyster character. The palate is juicy and developed with apricot, nectarine and fresh lemon all playing their part.

Carrying the signature concentration and crisp acidity of our low-yielding, “Block 5” 1978 plantings, this wine showcases great length, texture and complexity; a result of being patiently aged in bottle for two years before its release.

Block 5 sits on a north slope of deep, silty soils. This 2 acre block is bordered by a mature Ponderosa pine forest on its western edge - which offers dappled late afternoon and evening sun exposure, and the fruit to maintain its bright acidity.

The fruit was handpicked at optimal ripeness and inoculated after a short settling period. It was then fermented to almost dry, leaving just over 7 grams of residual sweetness and a naturally high dry extract to balance the bright acidity we see year after year from this unique site. Although delicious now, its long cellaring capability will richly reward those who wait.

ACCOLADES

92 Points - David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
 

VINTAGE NOTES

The 2016 growing season started off quickly. Budbreak was record breaking and the ensuing Spring growth was rapid. Despite the early start to the season, cooling summer rains soon arrived and slowed growth down to a more normal pace.
 
Late summer and early fall turned warm and sunny once again, but with cooler than usual evenings the fruit was able to ripen evenly despite the warm daytime temperatures. The 2016 harvest kept us on our toes with a long, drawn out ripening phase and gave us one of the longest harvest windows to date.