Style

This is a dry, steely Riesling. Aromas of wet stones and early picked stone fruits. The palate enters fresh and firm and finishes dry, with moderate acidity and some grip.

Food Pairings

South Asian cuisine, charcuterie and any dishes that go well with beer.

Vineyard

Hardscrabble (Estate) Fauquier Co., on top of the Blue Ridge at an elevation of 1,100 to 1,200 feet on an eastern slope. Well drained volcanic-origin greenstone and granite soils. Lyre training. Vines planted in 1997.

Vintage

June and all of July was very dry. Shoot growth was less than normal with very little hedging needed. Young vines and less water retentive soils showed some drought stress. We needed rain, but not the 3.5 inches that fell over a few hours on August 11. The rest of August was uneventful allowing clusters to lose some compactness.

A forecast can sometimes become confused with reality. The beginning of harvest is best remembered by the threats of Harvey, Irma, Maria and Jose. They were no shows, with little affect on quality. However fears of their potential impact did influence picking decisions. Harvest, about ten days early, was on September 7, 2017.

Winemaking

Riesling was fermented relatively warm (20° C [68° F]). The wine was bottled in May of 2018. It is ready to drink after one or two years of bottle age. 11.5% alcohol. 8 grams/liter of residual sugar; 7.0 grams/liter titratable acidity. 2,152 bottles produced. Drink through 2022.

Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2017 Vintage | 2017 Linden Riesling