2012 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.
Hand-harvested grapes were gently sorted and whole cluster pressed to avoid any bitterness while enhancing clean, crisp character and freshness in the finished wine. Fermented at a cool 60 degrees F in stainless steel tanks using a collection of German yeasts, Armin selected his favorite lots of the vintage to achieve a lively Rielsing styled with a racy, complex character.
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Varietal | Riesling |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Riesling |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Residual Sugar | 1.25g / 100ml |
| Alcohol | 12.90% |
| Wine Style | White Wine |
| Volume | 750 ml |
2010 POET'S LEAP - 94 POINTS
"Marvelous concentration and a panoply of lush orange, apricot, peach and papaya flavors carry this beautifully balanced wine through a long and satisfying finish. Delicious young, it could also be cellared for a decade or longer. Editors' Choice."
|
2010 POET'S LEAP - 91 POINTS
"A beautiful Riesling that has excellent typicity, the 2012 Riesling Poet’s Leap offers up classy lychee nut, citrus peel and freshly crushed stone-like minerality as well as a medium-bodied, semi-dry palate-feel that’s buffered nicely by juicy, lip smacking acidity. It’s well done and while I would lean towards drinking bottles over the coming year or two, I was able to taste vintages going back through 2003, all of which were still in fine form."
|
The 2012 Poet's Leap Riesling brings together a distinct collection of Columbia Valley vineyards, each contributing unique components to the finished wine. Long Shadows' own Sonnet Vineyard at The Benches in the Horse Heaven Hills (59%) forms the basis for the blend. Planted in 2004 with German clones in close consultation with Armin, Sonnet gives the wine its delicious minerality. Yakima Valley's Phil Church Vineyard (27%) and Underwood Mountain Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge (4%) both contribute bright citrus and acidity. Tri-Cities' Sagemoor Vineyards (10%) adds a delicate hint of sweetness and a rich mouth feel.
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.
