2012 Riesling Vidal
Palate
Creamy entry, evolving to melon, then a grapefruit pith finish.
Aromas
White peach, freshly cut straw, white flowers, and stone dust.
Food Pairing
Asian cuisine, sausages, and anything spicy.
Vineyard
Hardscrabble (Estate), Fauquier Co., on top of the Blue Ridge at an elevation of 1,100 to 1,300 feet on an eastern slope. Deep, well drained, volcanic-origin greenstone and granite soils. Lyre training. Vines planted in 1997.
Vintage
2012 was back to some welcome degree of normalcy after the freakishly hot and dry 2010 and the rain soaked September of 2011.
An extremely mild and dry winter gave us bud break a record 3 to 4 weeks earlier than average. Flowering was still 2 to 3 weeks early but occurred under generally favorable conditions and we were looking at a generous crop across varieties.
Mid summer was hot and precipitation was variable. The vines were never water stressed during the summer. Blocks on clay soils experienced luxuriant and to some degree, unwanted rampant growth. August is usually the time we have finished our work in the vineyard and head back to the cellar. In 2012 tropical conditions in August, beckoned us back to the vineyard to pull more leaves around bunches, aerating the cluster zones as a precaution against rot. Ultimately, clusters were healthy but berry size was large.
Harvest began about 10 days early under typical September conditions. One day of rain was followed by a week of sun. White grapes started the harvest with refreshingly low sugars , moderate acidities and good aromatics.
At the winery, sorting tables were running slowly as rot and uneven ripening were often issues. The strength of the whites was in their potential delicate balance and aromatic expression.
Winemaking
The goal is to retain the fresh fruit characteristics of each grape. Riesling contributes aroma, tropical fruit and acidity; Vidal gives spice, weight, and structure. The blend is cool fermented. The wine is bottled in late winter and is ready to drink after one or two years of bottle age. 63% Riesling and 37% Vidal. 12.1% alcohol. 338 cases produced.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2012 Vintage | 2012 Riesling Vidal