2010 Poet's Leap Riesling
Inspired by the greatest wines of Germany and crafted by one of Germany's most highly acclaimed Riesling producers, Armin Diel, proprietor of the renowned Schlossgut Diel.
Fresh and pure, this off dry Riesling is loaded with expressive aromatics and flavors of ripe pear, white nectarine, apricot and wet stone minerality. A welcoming richness and vibrant mouth feel, led by the wine's lemon-lime acidity, delivers a clean and lengthy finish.
93 POINTS - WINE ENTHUSIAST
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Varietal | Riesling |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Riesling |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Acid | 0.85g/100ml |
| PH | 3.00 |
| Aging | Drink now through 2022 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.31g/100ml |
| Alcohol | 12.90% |
| Wine Style | White Wine |
| Volume | 750 ml |
2010 POET'S LEAP - 93 POINTS
"From an especially cool vintage that favored acidity and citrus, this Poet's Leap is a pretty wine, vibrant and full across the palate, with a mix of apple and peach flavors. Clean and balanced, it adds nuances of tea and finally a hint of honey in the extended finish." - Editors' Choice
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2010 POET'S LEAP - 92 POINTS
“As its devoted admirers know, Riesling can be a complex and very serious wine, and this latest lovely from Poet's Leap is an intense, beautifully balanced, slightly sweet version that smacks of minerals, fresh limes and a bit of pineapple and citrus. It tastes of fruit rather than sugar and it shows tremendous length with the kind of firm acid spine that guarantees it will be around and in increasingly good shape for many years to come.”
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2010 POET'S LEAP - 90 POINTS
"This tangy wine has presence and depth, with a tart edge to the delicate sweetness, as apple and floral flavors linger on the finish." |
Long Shadows’ Sonnet Vineyard is the predominant source (57%) for this delicious wine. A site planted with German clones in 2004, the grapes deliver true varietal character and a pleasing minerality. Yakima Valley’s Phil Church Vineyard (22%) brings a hint of citrus and adds liveliness to the blend. Equal parts Weinbau Vineyard and old-vine Dionysus Vineyard Riesling (10% each) contribute ripe pear and apricot along with added complexity and layers respectively. Working with a team of outstanding viticulturists, Poet’s Leap is crafted in the vineyard. Throughout the growing season, leaf canopies, shoots and clusters are carefully managed by hand to ensure proper air circulation and even ripening.
Armin Diel is one of Germany’s most acclaimed Riesling producers. His family has owned the celebrated estate of Schlossgut Diel, in Burg Layen, in the Nahe River Valley since 1802. Involved in the estate from the early years of his childhood, Armin assumed management of the winery, a 12th century medieval castle and it’s prestigious vineyards, the best known being Goldloch (pebbles), and Pittermännchen (slate), in 1987. Ten years later, Armin acquired Burgberg (quartz), another outstanding vineyard on the eastern side of Goldloch. All three parcels have been classified on an official ground tax map with the highest possible ranking since 1901, giving them status comparable to a Burgundy Grand Cru.
Schlossgut Diel is internationally renowned for its white wines, predominately Rieslings, across a wide range of styles. The intense Goldloch wines are similar to the great Rheingau-Rieslings; the Pittermännchen Rieslings are more like the refined Middle Mosels; and the Burgberg is a brilliant source for great dry Rieslings. Schlossgut Diel is also highly regarded for its rare sweet Eisweins and Ausleses. The estate is a member of the prestigious “Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter” (VDP) which lists Germany's top 200 estates, and Armin has been president of the VDP-Nahe section since 1993.
Armin is also one of Germany’s leading wine writers (though he never comments on his own wines). He was co-editor of the German Gault Millau Wine Guide and writes frequently about French and German wines for various magazines.
Armin and his wife Monika live in Burg Layen and have two grown children. Their daughter, Caroline, is responsible for the winemaking at Schlossgut Diel. She is married and has three children. Their son, Victor, is responsible for Marketing and Sales of the estate, with a focus on export markets.
