An ice wine on early-ripening Red Mountain? The Williams family has been making some of the Northwest’s best for decades. They’ve got a cold pocket that’s proven to be the sweet spot for the 4 acres of Chenin Blanc — planted in 1976 — which they can count on annually to produce this nectar. In 2012, they took the grapes at 31 Brix on Nov. 11, and the aromas include apricot, honey drizzled over peach, carrot cake, clove and pleasing grassiness. Inside are flavors of baked peach, fresh-picked pear and spearmint. It’s a light and refreshing style of ice wine, backed by good acidity to balance the residual sugar of 17%. It netted a silver medal at the 2014 Seattle Wine & Food Experience Wine Competition.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 200 cases
Alcohol: 8.2%
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