2009 Late Harvest White Riesling

This botrytised White Riesling, grown at our Henry Ranch vineyard in Carneros, was harvested on December 29, 2009, a full two months after the regular harvest. The grapes were fully infected with the “noble rot” (botrytis cinerea), a fungus which naturally increases sugars. Depending on the conditions, botrytis can be either beneficial or devastating to grapes. (375ml half-bottle)

1 Review(s)

Due to the limited availability of this item, the maximum order quantity is 1.

In its benevolent form, over a period of cool mornings and warm afternoons, the grapes shrivel, concentrating and intensifying both sugar and flavor. The grape’s acid level remains high, however, which prevents the resulting wines from being cloyingly sweet. The French call their botrytised wines Sauternes, the Germans Trockenbeernauslese and the Hungarians Tokay Aszú. In California we call them Late Harvest. Big and sweet in the nose, its ripe peach and sweet honey aromas display just how ripe the grapes were allowed to get before harvest (the grapes were picked at 35 Brix; the wine was finished at 16% residual sugar). And its broad, mouth-filling flavors of honeyed peach and citrus coat the palate; but just before it gets too sweet, its acidity appears on the mid-palate, cutting through the sugar and leading to a lengthy finish that features a bright, zesty end-note. 

PLATINUM MEDAL

*San Francisco Int'l Wine Comp

5 GOLD MEDALS and "Best of Show":

* Tasters' Guild International,
* Critics Challenge
* Monterey Wine Festival
* Winemaker Challenge
* Napa Valley Vintners/ St. Helena Star - voted "BEST RIESLING"
 

Product Reviews

 

Melissa Greer
(Jan 19, 2012 at 10:00 PM)

Absolutely delicious! Extremely fruity and delightfully sweet. One could even drink this as a dessert wine. I will order more!

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