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Winemaker’s Series Johannisberg Riesling

Winemaker’s Series Johannisberg Riesling Wine Details
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Description: "Over the past twenty-five vintages, Ste. Chapelle has built an enviable reputation for producing exceptional Johannisberg Rieslings. In 2002, our Riesling grape clusters ripened slowly over a three-week period. The resulting wine shows ripe, concentrated Riesling fruit flavors, crisp acidity and a long, flavorful finish. We began harvesting our Riesling grapes in early October. By crushing, pressing and fermenting the juice at a low temperature, we were able to retain the fresh Riesling fruit character along with a small amount of natural grape sweetness. This 2002 vintage has an aroma of apricots and peaches and a long, fruit-filled finish. It makes a delightful accompaniment to light meals, or serve well chilled as an aperitif." Chuck Devlin, winemaker

Varietal Definition
Johannisberg Riesling:
A white-wine variety widely grown along the Rhine river and tributaries - (e.g: Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Mosel, Nahe regions etc.) - in Germany and also in other temperate regions of Europe. It is also grown in N. America, where it can produce a flowery, fruity dry wine with high acid and low alcohol not unlike the german "Kabinett" version or a semi-dry style with some residual sugar similar to the german "Spatlese" version. If infected with appropriate amounts of "botrytis", it can make outstanding late-harvest wines - (e.g: comparable to the german "Auslese" series). The Finger Lakes region of New York state in the U.S. produces excellent versions in the Mosel style and the North-West coast of N. America seems to have the right conditions for creating the richer, earthier Rheinhessen taste, as do the cooler regions of California. Australia now produces excellent versions of the dry, crisp Alsation-style, as well as fruitier semi-sweet Mosel-type wines, as has New Zealand in recent years.
Riesling:
On the sweeter end of the spectrum, some of the best dessert wines should give thanks to the Riesling varietal. Riesling is known for its complementary nature of combining balanced acidity with sugar. Rieslings are made dry to sweet, but it is the sweet style Riesling that brought about its popularity in the United States. With the rise of spicy sauces, marinades and dips to flavor our meal, Riesling plays a part in taking off the edge of the heat. Riesling is known for a number of signature characteristics: floral, citrus and pear. Riesling has peaked in California with 11,000 acres planted. Today, Monterey County’s cool-climate areas and its long growing season produce good amounts of character for the Riesling grape. Outside of


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