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Sweet Cheeks Winery 2011 Dry Riesling, Oregon, $20

By on February 11, 2013

Oregon wineWith fewer than 1,000 acres dedicated to the variety, Oregon is not a big player in the world of Riesling. But size matters less than performance, especially with wine. One reason so little Riesling is made in Oregon is because its cooler climate naturally produces lower tonnage. So while Riesling vines in the arid Columbia Valley can easily carry six tons per acre, the more maritime climate of the Willamette Valley often cannot produce much more than three tons per acre. That makes Riesling less economically feasible than, say, Pinot Noir. And that’s why we don’t see as many Oregon Rieslings as we’d like. Thankfully, Sweet Cheeks in Eugene had dedicated much of its effort to crafting delicious Riesling such as this beauty. It opens with aromas of Golden Delicious apple, ripe pear and something that reminded us of Honeycomb cereal. On the palate, it is bright and lip-smackingly dry, with flavors of citrus and ripe apple. This is a perfect foil for Moroccan tajine, California rolls or Thai curries.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 320 cases

Alcohol: 12.8%

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Articles authored by Great Northwest Wine are co-authored by Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

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