2013 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.
The 2013 growing season was made to order, despite a few unusual twists and turns along the way. The season started with an early bud break followed by dry, warm weather that lasted until a lengthy rainstorm hit the region in mid-June. The precipitation allowed the vines to establish a solid canopy that proved useful when temperatures reached 100 degrees immediately following the mid-June rains. With a protective exterior canopy, we were able to open the interior canopy to allow uniform ripening in the fruit zone that benefitted from extended hang time as temperatures cooled in the fall to produce balanced, fruit-forward wines.
The 2013 Poet’s Leap Riesling offers aromas of white peach, jasmine, Thai basil and nutmeg. Flavors of ripe melon, apricot and an appealing minerality continue across the palate. An underlying hint of honey sweetness is balanced by a streak of bright acidity that provides a long, clean finish.
93 points - Wine Enthusiast, Cellar Selection
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2013 |
| Varietal | Riesling |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Riesling |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Acid | .80 grams / 100 ml |
| PH | 3.08 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.29g / 100ml |
| Alcohol | 12.90% |
| Wine Style | White Wine |
| Volume | 750 ml |
2013 POET'S LEAP - 93 POINTS
"One of the consistently finest Rieslings from the state, this is technically off dry, but feels dry given its exceptional acidity. Elegant citrus and floral aromas introduce a dense, textural midpalate. A showase of style and panache, its layered citrus and stone fruits bring both skin and flesh flavors into focus. Cellar Selection."
2013 POET'S LEAP - 91 POINTS
"We recommend this wine for its keen focus, firm yet lightly sweetened balance and its mix of minerally, peachy and floral aromatic and flavor characteristecs."
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2013 POET'S LEAP - 90 POINTS
"Rock-solid, the 2013 Poet's Leap Riesling is a delicious, lively and crisp white that offers plenty of mint, green citrus, and flint-like minerality to go with a medium-bodied profile on the palate that delivers a kiss of sweetness. Perfectly balanced, it will drink well for 5 - 7 years."
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WALLA WALLA VALLEY WINE COMPETITION - BEST WHITE WINE
"Old World meets New World when storied German vintner Armin Diel of Schlossgut Diel collaborates each year in Walla Walla with Gilles Nicault, and this is arguably their best effort in the decade-long history of this project. The largest share (43%) comes from the estate Sonnet Vineyard at The Benches in Horse Heaven Hills, and there's also support off Phil Church Vineyard (27%) in the Yakima Valley and from the 40-year-old vines at Sagemoor. The nose comes packed with orchard fruit akin to Golden Delicious apple, peach and apricot, backed by clove. That theme also plays on the palate, which enters with ripeness, while ample acidity crisply deals with the residual sugar (1.3%), and a dusting of minerality adds to the complexity."
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The 2013 Poet’s Leap Riesling brings together a distinct collection of Columbia Valley vineyards, each contributing unique components to the finished wine. Long Shadows’ Sonnet Vineyard at The Benches in the Horse Heaven Hills (43%) adds minerality and stone fruits. Yakima Valley’s Phil Church Vineyard (27%) contributes bright, lively acidity that adds to the wine’s balance. Tri-Cities’ Sagemoor Vineyards (30%), including grapes from old vines at Dionysus Vineyard planted in 1972, add layers of complexity.
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) and Armin is president of the VDP-Nahe section.
Armin is also one of Germany’s leading wine writers (though he never comments on his own wines). Until 2009 he was co-editor of the German Gault Millau Wine Guide. He writes mainly about French and German wines for several leading German wine reviews.
Armin and his wife Monika live in Burg Layen with their daughter Caroline who became partner in the winery in 2006. She had completed her studies in enology in Geisenheim – Germany’s UC Davis equivalent. Son Victor is based in Hamburg and responsible for the estate’s export sales.
