A to Z Riesling 2020
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Gorgeously aromatic, the 2020 A to Z Wineworks Oregon Riesling greets with bright fresh citrus (lemon, mandarin orange, lime sherbet, grapefruit) and tropical aromas (green papaya, lychee, pineapple), as well as revealing hints of honeydew, pear, apple, quince, apricot, and floral and savory notes of honeysuckle, rose, bay leaves, sage, and tarragon. The wine initially zips across the palate with lively energy showing a rich texture, noticeable salinity, and notes of the same abundant fruits that greeted the nose. The juicy palate has lovely, mouth-watering acidity balanced by a touch of well-integrated residual sweetness, making it off-dry rather than sweet. A long finish brings the bottle design’s promise of spring to the last sip assuring that the 2020 A to Z Wineworks Oregon Riesling will be a crowd-pleaser.
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This lively, low alcohol wine is slightly pétillant and bursting with fresh fruit flavors. Mandarin orange, Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit and Cosmic Crisp apple all come to mind, with lovely hints of citrus rind. The penetrating finish is dry but not at all austere.
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Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
As the the largest region in the greater Southern Oregon AVA, bordering California, the Rogue Valley AVA grows the most diverse array of grape varieties compared to any other Oregon appellation.
The Rogue Valley AVA is actually made up of three adjacent river valleys—not just one as its name suggests—Bear Creek, Applegate and Illinois. These valleys extend from the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains, a coastal sub range of the Klamath Mountains. Most Rogue Valley vineyards are planted on hillsides at elevations of 1,200 to 2,000 feet where soils are metamorphic, sedimentary and volcanic.
On one end Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tempranillo, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc benefit from a warm and dry climate. To the west end of the Rogue Valley, cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat and Gewürztraminer do best. Dolcetto, Grenache and Zinfandel also grow in the Rogue Valley AVA.
Early European settlers first started growing grapes here in the 1840s, the most famous of whom was a pioneer named, Peter Britt. He also opened Oregon’s first official winery (which later closed in 1907). Today, besides its great wines, the region is known for the Britt Music & Arts festival, which inhabits Peter Britt’s former hillside estate, and the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival.