The latest bottling of “The Green Lizard” Grüner hadn’t been released long before it quickly started winning gold medals, and the 2020 vintage marks the fourth straight time it’s earned a Platinum or better. The mascot of Austria’s Wachau Valley – a green lizard – is known as smaragd. It’s also a term denoting the lots of Grüner that attain the highest level of ripeness and result in a finished wine that fermented to 12.5% alcohol. Stephen Reustle gets there with his latest Green Lizard, and the ripeness brings a softer mouthfeel that offers charming notes of orchard blossom, honeysuckle and lime. Award: Great Northwest Invitational (gold).
Rating: Platinum, 95 Points
Production: 259 cases
Alcohol: 12.6%
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