Bitner Vineyards 2013 Reserve Riesling, Snake River Valley, $17

Idaho traditionally has produced Riesling in a sweet style, but the country’s renaissance for the noble white grape is making an impact in the Gem State. Greg Koenig’s winemaking for longtime friend/grower Ron Bitner includes this reserve tier for Riesling, and old blocks planted in 1981 help paved the way for the region’s top examples. Aromas of Key Lime, peach pie, pineapple and cinnamon lead to a bone-dry presentation of Granny Smith apple, apricot and spearmint. The mouth feel is exceptional as the residual sugar of 1% peeks out just a a bit in the finish of peach cobbler. World-renowned Riesling proponent Stuart Pigott applauded Bitner Vineyards in his recent book, The Best White Wine on Earth: The Riesling Story, and this may well be Bitner’s best release to date.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 98 cases

Alcohol: 12.6%

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