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1998 Dry Riesling Reserve

(updated 8/18/00)

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The Wine

A cult wine made in very limited quantities (especially in 1998, the half-crop vintage), in the style of Alsace, largely for top-end restaurants or Dry Riesling freaks, this is a big wine with brilliant, rich fruit and a weighty palate. The acidity provides ageability and great structure, making it amazing with food and cleansing on the palate.

It continues the viscous, intense, Alsatian styled wines that our Pinot Gris Reserve starts; it is harvested late (Always in November) with a touch of botrytis and full ripeness, giving the most intense dry riesling we can make; concentrated and viscous on the palate, it is packed with spice, apple/pear/apricot fruit, and floral accents; vinified in small lots with a selection of yeasts, it is dry and bracing in acidity.

Fewer than 100 cases made in this vineyard designated wine from our Corral Creek Vineyard. Only made in exceptional years (e.g., NO 1997 made). Sold at the winery and in two or three states appreciating fine European rieslings. Some of our patrons consider this the best domestic riesling made-we, of course, can't comment.

NOTES: THE RESERVE IS BOTTLED IN THE DISTINCTIVE EXTENDED NECK ANTIQUE GREEN HOCK BOTTLE USED FOR PINOT GRIS RESERVE. THE WINE IS DESIGNED FOR THE TABLE AND WILL APPEAL TO TRIMBACH AND ZIND HUMBRECHT LOVERS. MORE THAN THE PRICE TELLS YOU IT IS NOT YOUR $7 RIESLING. COMES FROM A 1.1 ACRE PLOT AT CORRAL CREEK, THE VINEYARD SURROUNDING THE WINERY.

Stats

Harvested 11/3/98 @21.0 brix, 2.91 pH; fermented with a blend of yeasts in small stainless vessels; cold stabilized, filtered and bottled 7/9/99 @ 0.76% residual sugar, 12.0 % alcohol, 6.9 g/l acid., 3.07 pH; 87 cases made.

Quotes

Northwest Palate, July/August 2000, Tasting Notes: Dry. Faint lime and apricot in the nose. Ripe melon and apple flavors. Concentrated and well-balanced with an austere mineral finish. Pair with Thai-spiced steamed mussels.

The Wine Advocate, December 1999: 87 points. Readers searching out a delightful aperitif wine should flock to Chehalem's 1998 Dry Riesling Corral Creek Vineyard. Its beautifully soft, bergamot nose leads to a well-balanced, dry, focused, and flavorful character. This apple and mineral flavored wine has excellent grip, and a supple, fruit-packed finish.