When he started out, the so-called experts suggested to Dr. Bob Jankelson that he focus his attention on growing Riesling because the Lake Chelan Valley would struggle to ripen other varieties. Mother Nature, vineyard manager Bal Flores and 26 Platinums across eight varieties have proven those pundits wrong. However, four of those Platinums have been for Riesling, and this is the first with Ray Sandidge as the winemaker. It’s reminiscent of a walk through a Chelan Valley orchard, picking off pears, nectarines and Rainier cherries. Insistent acidity joins the secondary notes of honeysuckle and starfruit of this young and well-crafted expression, which held its own alongside some of the Northwest’s most famous bottlings. Awards: Seattle Wine Awards (double gold), North Central Wine Awards (gold), Bellingham Northwest (gold).
Rating: Platinum, 94 points
Production: 321 cases
Alcohol: 13%
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