Nine Hats 2013 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! The nine star-studded winemakers of Long Shadows Vintners put only a portion of wine they create under their iconic labels, yet the quality of juice that doesn’t quite make the cut would be prized by most other vintners. And any of the bottles under this second label can be enjoyed consumers, especially at these bargain prices. Poet’s Leap virtuoso Armin Diel — leader of Schlossgut Diel in Germany — relies on The Benches estate vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills for his project based in Walla Walla. This latest Nine Hats bottling of Riesling offers rich aromas of custard, pear and baked apple with cinnamon. It takes a dry and spicy angle to the palate with crisp flavors of pear, apple and starfruit. Juicy midpalate acidity builds toward a lengthy finish with a pinch of clove.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 1,729 cases
Alcohol: 12.9%
Sheila Nicholas says
Just one from Oregon? Over 40 of us recently conducted a technical tasting of pre-bottled 2014 Oregon Rieslings with exciting results. SmackDown?
Eric Degerman says
Greetings Sheila,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Actually, there are three 2013 Rieslings from Oregon in that slideshow — South Stage Cellars, Willamette Valley Vineyards and Mt. Hood Winery. We’re looking forward to seeing the Rieslings coming out of Oregon from the 2014 vintage.