Casey McClellan continues his string of success with his debut bottling of late harvest Riesling, which he took off Sugarloaf Vineyard – one of Joel Hattrup’s Yakima Valley plantings that tops out at near 1,300 feet elevation. Harvest came at 32 Brix and came with some influence of botrytis, making for aromas and flavors of apricot glacéed, poached pear, honey, dried pineapple, papaya and clove. A late trickle of acidity and a hint of lavender make for a delicious finish. It’s bottled in 375-milliter bottles and built as a standalone dessert wine at 9.5% residual sugar, yet it also deserves to be served alongside pastry, custards and fruit-and-cheese plates. McClellan also projects cellaring this well into the next decade.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 250 cases
Alcohol: 10%
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