Flavor Profile

14 Hands Riesling reveals aromas of spiced peaches, freshly sliced apples and subtle notes of honey and flowers. Juicy flavors of nectarines and apricots fill the mouth ending with a racy, sweet-tart finish. This would be a great aperitif, or would pair nicely with spicy Asian dishes.

The Vintage

The 2010 vintage was cooler than past vintages; bud break arrived on schedule in early April, but a cool, wet spring delayed flowering and reduced fruit set across many varieties. An unusually cool summer produced dramatic differences in ripening between warmer and cooler sites, with veraison extending into September in some cooler areas. However, naturally low yields, combined with over a month of consistently warm weather from late September through late October, produced ripeness and flavor development with extraordinary natural acidity.

Winemaking

Fruit was sourced from vineyards throughout Washington state including the Horse Heaven Hills, Yakima Valley, Wahluke Slope and other parts of the Columbia Valley. Riesling fruit was fed directly into membrane presses, where the juice was quickly separated from the skins and seeds. After pressing, the juice cold settled for 2 days. The clean juice was then inoculated with a number of yeast strains to initiate 20-30 day fermentations. Cool temperatures throughout the winemaking process accentuated the naturally clean, fruity character.

Technical Data

• Alcohol: 11.5%
• Total Acidity: 0.77 g/100ml
• pH: 3.00