Wine Notes > Riesling > Current Release
2007 Sext Riesling
(new release February 2009)
The Wine
The 2007 vintage was so great for Riesling that we wanted to do something different. As we’ve done in other creative bursts, we started by looking at dining habits. We love the multiple uses of a young, sparkling wine, from enjoying as an aperitif to toasting at a celebration to pairing with assertive foods. A bracingly acidic, slightly sweet version is what we often choose for creamy desserts, such as panna cotta. Here is our version using Riesling from Ridgecrest Vineyards.
The Vineyard
Our oldest estate vineyard, Ridgecrest is a 55-acre vineyard on a 176-acre property. Beginning in 1980, this site pioneered grapegrowing on Ribbon Ridge, a small ridge on the western end of the Chehalem Range. Soils are Willakenzie, a transition soil series exhibiting characteristics of both volcanic and sedimentary underlying structures, marine sediment being predominant. Excellent acidity and a finesseful texture and finish are hallmarks of the vineyard site.
The Vintage
In summary, we think 2007 may be a fantastic white vintage and a surprisingly good red vintage, despite the rain that many times might lead to less intense wines. With rain in the range of 2005 and much less than the last really rainy harvest season of 1997, most winemakers in the valley knew how to adapt and took advantage of the vintage’s attributes, such as lower sugars (and therefore alcohols) and higher acids. As long as botrytis is kept from reds or sorted out, and winemaking sleight of hand provides physical therapy for the intensity shortcomings, such as saignée, tannin adds, chaptalization, and acidulation, the vintage will have stellar wines, just with more variability. Buy whites in general, buy reds from trusted names.
Stats
Harvest Data:
Harvested 10/13/07 @ 17.0 brix, 2.94 pH, and 12.4 g/L TA, from 3.7 tons per acre cropload
Fermentation:
Tank fermented with SIHA7 yeast in small stainless vessels
Cooperage/Aging:
None
Bottling:
Cold stabilized, filtered, and bottled 4/30/2008
Bottling Analyses:
8.0% alcohol, 2.83 pH, 11.0 g/L acid., 3.2% residual sugar
Cases Produced:
78
Suggested Retail:
$24 (TO ORDER)
Release Date:
February 2009
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© CHEHALEM
31190 NE Veritas Lane • Newberg, OR 97132
Tasting Room (503) 538-4700 • Winery (503) 537-5553 • Fax (503) 537-0850
Winemaker's Comments
Platinum with hints of Sweetarts candy and lemon Jolly Ranchers, lemon-lime soda, fresh grapes, and green apple on the nose. Flavors reminiscent of a palate-cleansing sorbet. Light and zippy on the palate but offers plenty of weight. Honeycomb, white flowers, and lime zest galore. Serious length and ubercrisp.