
Our reigning Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year produces three different icewines, but the family often rotates among Riesling, Cabernet Franc and this stunning effort with a second hardy German variety — Ehrenfelser. This grape is a legacy of the historic Becker Project, and the vine’s ability to weather arctic blast has been tested the past two growing seasons. And yet, the results remain remarkable, regardless of the winemaking approach. Here, the Gehringer family allowed it to ripen up to 42 Brix, and it developed aromas of passion fruit, honeysuckle and honey. The range of flavors includes peach nectar and cantaloupe, making for a beautiful satiny texture. The tantalizing finish of star fruit and orange marmalade magically deals with the 24% residual sugar. At the Cascadia International, this dominated its class, receiving a unanimous vote for gold and cruising into the sweepstakes as the best sweet wine of the show.
Rating: Best sweet wine — double gold medal — 95 points — Outstanding!
Production: 600 cases
Alcohol: 11%
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