Long Shadows Riesling Poets Leap

Description

Overview Inspired by the great wines of Germany and winemaker Armin Diel, one of the most highly acclaimed Riesling producers and proprietor of the renowned Schlossgut Diel.The 2016 vintage was another hot growing season that required extra care in the vineyard to preserve the Riesling’s fresh, bright character. Building on the success of our canopy management program the last few vintages, we worked with growers throughout the season to encourage growth of the canes and outside foliage to protect against the sun while opening up the fruit zone for even maturation. Warm temperatures in the fall hastened ripening, but the Columbia Valley’s cool autumn nights gave us fresh, ripe fruit with balanced natural acidity.The 2016 vintage of Poet’s Leap is an off-dry Riesling with expressive, spicy aromatics and generous, lively flavors. Fresh melon, honey, ripe apricot and a hint of citrus jump on the palate leaving a vibrant, racy impression and a long, clean finish.Reviews James Suckling This is a standout. Lime citrus and some more savory wet-stone notes. Really exciting nose. The palate delivers a pithy lime and apple impression. A fresh drink-now style that’s gently off-dry.Wine Spectator 2016 POET’S LEAP – 90 POINTS Snappy and refiined, offering expressive star fruit and slate aromas that lead to sleek apricot and spice flavors.- Smart BuyWine Enthusiast2016 POET’S LEAP – 90 POINTS This wine’s aromas are bright, with honeysuckel, ripe peach, mandrin orange, slate and lime zest notes. It drinks just off dry, with abundant stone fruit flavors, mouthwatering acidity and a balance that’s spot-on.Antonio Galloni, VinousReviews by Stephen Tanzer 2014 POET’S LEAP – 90 POINTS Aromas and flavors of orange zest, peach, ginger and five-spice powder. Offers good body and purity, with a touch of sweetness buffered by ripe acidity and just enough minerality to maintain its shape. Finishes with good spicy persistence, an intriguing element of salinity and a late note of lime blossom.Vineyards The 2016 Poets Leap Riesling brings together a varied collection of Columbia Valley vineyards. Roughly half of the blend is from German clones planted in the Horse Heaven Hills high above the Columbia River, selected to give this wine its distinct minerality. Yakima Valley’s Phil Church Vineyard 12% adds bright acidity. Sagemoor Farms Vineyards 16% bring apricot and honey to the final blend, and Underwood Mountain 9% in the Columbia Gorge enhances the wine’s lively, assertive character.Winemaker Armin Diel, owner of Schlossgut Diel from Germany’s Nahe region, came to Long Shadows in 2003 to make Poet’s Leap Riesling. The partnership was born after Long Shadow’s founder Allen Shoup and Armin discovered a shared belief in the notion that the U.S. was on the cusp of a Riesling renaissance. It was this idea that led Allen, then CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle to establish Eroica, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s joint venture with the Mosel’s Dr. Ernst Loosen. At the same time, Diel was leading a Riesling renaissance of his own, serving as president of the VDP-Nahe, an association of area wine estates dedicated to high-quality Riesling production in Germany.And it was Dr. Loosen’s friendship with Allen and Armin that brought the two together.Since Poet’s Leap’s first vintage in 2003, Long Shadows’ director of winemaking Gilles Nicault has collaborated with Armin on Poet’s Leap’s vineyard selection, fermentation and blending to establish a consistent style for the wine. In the fall of 2016, Gilles assumed total winemaking responsibility for Poet’s Leap after Armin found it increasingly challenging to make the numerous trips overseas that the project required. Gilles remains committed to crafting the same style and quality of the wine the team originally envisioned. – Long Shadows Wineries