One of the premier examples of ice wine produced in the Pacific Northwest — particularly in the U.S — continues to come from the cellar of Koenig Vineyards in Caldwell, Idaho, and nearby Williamson Vineyards. These two Snake River Valley farming families partner on many projects, and while 93% of this is ice wine from the 2021 vintage, the blending trials for the traditional … [Read more...] about Koenig Vineyards NV Riesling Ice Wine, Snake River Valley $30
Riesling
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2021 Riesling, British Columbia $23
Best Buy! One of the Pacific Northwest’s most striking settings for delicious Riesling is Lillooet, British Columbia — halfway between Whistler and Kamloops, overlooking the Fraser River. The Riesling category at the 2023 Platinum was quite competitive, and this bottling via South African winemaker Alessandro Nel’s first vintage was one of just three Double Platinums in the … [Read more...] about Fort Berens Estate Winery 2021 Riesling, British Columbia $23
LA FRENZ Winery 2022 Freedom 75 Vineyard Estate Riesling 21B, Naramata Bench $21.50
Best Buy! These pioneers on British Columbia’s Naramata Bench have now earned 24 career Platinums from our panels, and a whopping nine of those have been of the unanimous variety. Remarkably, this is only the second time that the Martin family has received a Platinum for Riesling. They planted Freedom 75 across the road from their winery in 2011, and clone 21B is credited to … [Read more...] about LA FRENZ Winery 2022 Freedom 75 Vineyard Estate Riesling 21B, Naramata Bench $21.50
Koenig Vineyards 2022 Williamson Vineyard Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $18
Best Buy! The Williamson family was a strong supporter of Ste. Michelle’s Riesling Rendezvous, and their time surrounded by many of the world’s top Riesling producers prompted the family to take their program into a drier style. That has led James and Sydney Nederend of Koenig Vineyards to do the same, and it resulted in one of the best Rieslings of this year’s Platinum. Aromas … [Read more...] about Koenig Vineyards 2022 Williamson Vineyard Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $18
Westport Winery Garden Resort 2019 Maritime Riesling, Rattlesnake Hills $30
Winning a Platinum with Riesling is something the Roberts family has managed five times in the past decade, and this work from the 2019 vintage shows no sign of slowing down. White peach, a fork of Key lime pie, minerality and lemony acidity allows it to dance on the palate. “It’s so tasty, and it has everything,” remarked one judge. Qualifying awards: Los Angeles Invitational … [Read more...] about Westport Winery Garden Resort 2019 Maritime Riesling, Rattlesnake Hills $30