White Wine

Riesling

A stunning variety made in a bewildering array of styles from crisp, dry to off-dry and incredibly sweet.

Beyond style, the variety has incredible ability to be consumed young or very old, producing some of the most long-lived white wines of any variety. The sweet German Rieslings also rate as some of the worlds most expensive.

Where is it grown?

In Europe we see plantings in Alsace, France, across many regions in Germany from the Mosel to the Rheinhessen and the Pfalz. Along with Grüner Veltinger, Riesling is widely planted in Austria.

In South Australia, the Clare Valley’s, Polish Hill and Watervale produce stunning Riesling. You’ll find great Riesling coming from the Eden Valley SA, Central Victoria, Canberra, Tasmania, and, from the Great Southern in WA.

There are some cracking Rieslings coming out of New Zealand too!

What does it taste like?

Fresher dry styles tend to have citrus aromas and flavours with floral blossoms. Riper styles introducing stone fruit.

From region to region winemaking changes from simple pressing of fruit and fermentation to dry in stainless steel to use of skin contact and maturation in oak. Layering in different textures and flavours.

Shifting gear to Germany and Alsace the game of balancing sugar, alcohol and acid comes into play. From dry 12.5-13% wines we shift to lower alcohol dry wines and then the freshest of the sweet wines, the Kabinett styles. Coming in with as little as 7.5% sugar the trick is achieving balance with higher acidity. From Kabinett we mover through an array of styles increasing in sweetness and alcohol, heading all the way to the very sweet botrytis style Trockenbeerenauslese & Icewein made from frozen grapes.

You can read more about the different styles of Riesling made in Germany in the Wine Bites Mag articles exploring Riesling.

Off-dry Riesling lends itself beautifully to pairing with many Asian foods. Aged, sweeter, botrytis styles are perfect with cheese and fresher fruit desserts. Fresh, citrus styles are perfect with seafood and lighter poultry.

2017 Riesling Sensations

Germany Dry

Delicious!

Wagner-Stempel Riesling Porphyr 2017

Riesling | Siefersheim, Germany

Beautifully balanced, it rests toward the acid side of the scales, with a touch less alcohol, taming rich luscious fruits. We often get seduced by opulence. Daniel's 2015's from sites yielding some of the ripest fullest fruit in the Rheinhessen certainly have such seduction. The 2016 Porphyr, beautifully balanced, it rests toward the acid side of the scales, with a touch less alcohol, taming rich luscious fruits. Such a sophisticated wine of great line and length.

$59

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Wagner-Stempel Riesling Heerkretz 2017

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

White peach, apple and lime are accented by their pits and pits as well as by raw almond on an enticing nose highly reminiscent of that exhibited by the corresponding 2016. Scents of Ceylon tea and spring beauty (Claytonia) add inner-mouth allure. The feel is flatteringly silken, notwithstanding the persistence of stimulating piquancy. Infectious juiciness, along with an invigoratingly tactile, active sense of crystalline stony impingement, dramatically sets this wine’s vibrant, bell-clear fin

$125

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DRY

Clemens Busch Riesling Marienburg 1er Grosses-Gewächs ‘Fahrlay Terrasse’ 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The 2017 Marienburg Riesling Fahrlay Terrassen opens with a bright, very clear, fresh and stony bouquet of concentrated white fruits and lemon notes intertwined with crushed slate aromas. On the palate, this is a highly finessed and elegant Riesling from vines that are 100+ years old. This 2017 serves intensity, power and complexity in a subtle way. The wine has a subtle tannin grip that makes this like a white Pinot Noir. Salty and crunchy and highly finessed, this is a powerful but elegant and

$174

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DRY

Clemens Busch Riesling Marienburg ‘Raffes’ 2017

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

The 2017 Pündericher Marienburg Riesling Raffes is the essence of gray slate. Bright in color and flavors but also intense and intermixed with lemon-fresh stony notes, this is a concentrated yet pure, fresh and finessed, highly intense and refined Riesling with great length and an endless finish. This is a powerful but Auslese-styled Riesling with concentration, finesse and lots of power but no alcoholic impression. The wine was bottled with 13% alcohol and almost nine grams of residual sugar.

$280

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Germany Off-Dry

Max Ferdinand Richter Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Seriously! How often to Graacher and Wehlener just come up with the goods. This is a superb Kabinett. It has that slide flinty, reductive edge, less so than Prüm's Graacher. Huge energy here with a sense of translucence somehow coming through over the divine fruits. Reminds me of Clemens Busch. It has incredible length, with a pinch of salt to finish. Refreshing, mouthwatering, succulent juice, just as a good Kabinett should be! From 70- to 80-year-old vines, the 2017 Graacher Himmelreich

$49

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Selbach Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

This is a beauty, graceful with a certain transparency to it. The freshness, combined with excellent depth and length is classic Kabinett. Like Max F Richter, the use of large old wood for fermentation and maturation harmonises the wine beautifully. A joy to devour! “Great Mosel Kabinett should be like drinking cool spring water; thirst quenching and delicious.” Johannes Selbach

$58

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Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese 375ml 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Yes! Stunning gear. I think the guys from Mosel Fine Wines calling it and Auslese Lange GK style is bang on. Lange GK = Long Gold Capsule and reference to the Reserve of the Reserve wines in Aussie vernacular. Give this 10-20 years and you'll be climbing a stairway to heaven! The 2017er Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese was harvested at well over 110° Oechsle. It offers a very classy and elegant nose of apricot blossom, whipped cream, almond, smoke and fine herbs. The wine proves highly

$71

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Only 70L Made!

Max Ferdinand Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese 375ml 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr BA was harvested at a full 150° Oechsle. The wine proves still rather restrained yet already more than hints at gorgeous TBA-like notes of honey, raisin, baked spices, apple jelly, orange zest, toffee, and nut paste come through. These scents lead to stunningly creamy and honeyed notes including raisin, baked spices and apple jelly on the palate. A refreshingly acidity makes gives this superbly oily wine the great zesty side of an Eiswein (no wonder as this wine ha

$420

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A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Kabinett Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The guys from Mosel Fine Wines have nailed it! This is superb. When you listen to Andreas speak of the unique cooler climate of the site this all makes sense. Andreas and Barbara have achieved outstanding balance here. The vinosity with 8.5% alcohol is there, not always the case with young Rizza from this neck of the woods. The clean, refreshing acidity plays beautifully with the moderate residual sugar. Lythe with a divine set of flavours it's fantastic to see this a couple of years on and it w

$66

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A.J.Adam Dhroner Häs’chen Kabinett Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

A fascinating comparison to the Hofberg. An edge of reduction a la Prüm's Graacher Kabinett on openning. A little more richness comes across here by comparision with the Hofberg. The balance and vinosity making for a complete wine loaded with personality. The MFW guys have nailed it. Chuck it in a decanter to get it moving! AP 11.18 The 2017er Dhroner Häs’chen Kabinett was harvested at 85° Oechsle. Still marked by residues of spontaneous fermentation at first, it delivers a gorgeou

$73

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A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Spätlese Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

AP 12.18 The 2017er Dhroner Hofberg Spätlese was harvested at 92° Oechsle in a prime parcel planted in the 1950s. It delivers a beautiful nose of whipped cream, vineyard peach, smoke, almond, earl grey and yellow plum. The wine offers great, almost concentrated presence on the mid-palate, yet a juicy and racy kick of acidity adds layers upon layers of freshness and intensity to the finish. This is a great success! 2027-2047 Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines 94 Points

$93

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Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese** 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Gold Cap - Fruchtsüss! A richer and nobly sweet style of Riesling. "The 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) displays a concentrated yet highly refined bouquet of orange, lemon and grapefruit aromas intermixed with delicate and refreshing slate notes. Lush, piquant and salty on the elegant, pure, even weightless palate, this is a crystalline Auslese with great finesse, grip, tension and highly stimulating salinity. This is a finessed, gorgeous beauty, and it almost ma

$115

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Alsace Dry

Divine, Pure, Delicious!

Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune Riesling MAG 2017

Riesling | France, Alsace

Ask any Riesling tragic the Top 5 Rieslings in the World & they'll have Clos Sainte Hune on their list! Each region around the world has epic producers, in Alsace you think of Albert Mann, Zind Humbrecht, Ostertag and always Trimbach. Trimbach has certainly had plenty of practice. In only nine years they’ll celebrate the families 400thyear making wine! The first celebrated release of Clos Ste Hune was in 1919. "Vivid straw-green with gold highlights. Highly aromatic on the nose, revealing

$1,390

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Alsace Off Dry

OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Burg’ 2017

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! A blend of 12 Alsatian Varieties! I haven't had the chance to try this yet. Given the rest of the 2017 are looking great this should be excellent too. D'Agata's note below if for the 2012. (a mixture of all the usual Alsace varieties, with a predominance of Gewürtzraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris): Bright golden straw-yellow. The opulent nose features marmalady botrytis, honeyed tropical fruit and and sweet spice aromas. Densely packed, intense and showy, with

$138

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OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Grasberg’ 2017

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! Riesling ~ Pinot Gris ~ Gewurztraminer I haven't had the chance to try this yet. Given the rest of the 2017 are looking great this should be excellent too. Notes from the last Grasberg I drank: Something quite special here. A unique wine of immense character. The botrytis play with spice, fresh apricot and almond / marzipan sits delicately with citrus, flowers, grapefruit and beyond. Off dry it sits balanced, with fresh acidity dancing over the light sweetnes

$138

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Austria Dry

Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvée 3 Years Edition 850 NV

White Blend | Kamptal, Austria

Following on from the epic 50 year version of this wine, Michael Moosbruger plans to now release both a 3 year and 10 year version annually. Read more of the technique below. The Cuvée 3 Years Edition 850 is a blend of : Vintage: 85% 2018, 10% 2017, 5% 2016 Grapes: 80% Grüner Veltliner, 20% Riesling This is an epic wine of intensity yet delicacy. Perfumed with incredible complexity and a seamless mouthfeel. Entrancing, divine wine that require deep thought and patience to make. Soft

$100

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Gunderloch 2019's

What a Difference 3 Year Makes!

Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

I love seeing Kabinett styles from the different regions of Germany. Gunderloch's from the Rheinhessen is an absolute cracker! So playful. This is an excellent wine. Complex with beautiful acid, a divine texture. Delicious. A beautiful expression. Compared to the Kabinett of Loosen in the Mosel you see and extra 2.5% alcohol, half the residual sugar and 1.5g/L less acid yet both are balanced. The extra fermentation raising the alcohol adds vinosity and more immediate approachability to the wine.

$42

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Gunderloch Als Wär’s Ein Stück Von Mir Riesling 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

A previous vintage of this wine was Johannes' 1st chance to make a wine on his own. Its success marked the changing of the baton from his father who granted him full control of all winemaking after tasting it! This was my note from the 2018 - Excellent personality, so much going on. Texturally insane. Great core of fruit. No sulphur to the juice allows the phenolics from the skin contact to oxidise and fall out leaving just the right amount of phenolic grip from the few days of skin contact the

$47

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Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

A juicy wine for the category with plenty of cassis character, but that doesn’t mean it’s really full-bodied. In fact, at the finish it’s quite a light and austere wine with a lot of herbal and green-leaf tea flavors. Drink or hold. Stuart Piggot

$78

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Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2019

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

"The 2019 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is fascinatingly pure, bright, refined and flinty on the nose that reveals very fine Riesling, slate and iron aromas. Pure, fresh and filigreed on the palate, this is a crystalline, fresh and piquant, crisp and crystalline JSU Spätlese in the acidity-accentuated MFR style. The finish is pure and salty, piquant and concise and makes this an exciting wine to try again in 20 years." Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate

$74

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A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Kabinett Riesling 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

AP 20.21 The 2020er Hofberg Kabinett, as it is referred to on the consumer label, was made from fruit harvested at approx. 80° Oechsle in the backside of the main hill of the vineyard and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (45 g/l). It offers a superb nose made of passion fruit, white peach, herbs, and spices. The wine develops a touch of creaminess pepped up by juicy fruits on the palate and leaves a gorgeous feel of fruits and herbs in the long finish. While the in

$74

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Robert Weil Kiedricher Riesling Trocken 2020

Riesling | Rheingau, Germany

This is stunning. The wines of the Rheingau sit closer to the wines of the Rheinhessen than those of the Mosel or Pfalz. Weil’s in particular have a richness. This has such an intoxicating perfume. It really draws you in. So much going on here. As with all good German Rizza it has that elevage that even on release has it looking in divine shape. So fine long and divine. Dry Riesling of this standard is such an incredible pleasure to devour. Layered, yes rich, yes fine long and divine. Every sn

$74

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Robert Weil Kiedricher Riesling Trocken 2021

Riesling | Rheingau, Germany

Yum, fine delicious elegant such beautifull mouthfeel flow (lick of sulphur) perfumed white flowers what a texture. Citrus and white nectarine. A little hint of baking spice wonderful expression. Flow, line and length. "From the higher vineyards in Kiedrich, especially Wasseros but also younger vines from Klosterberg, Turmberg and Gräfenberg, the 2021 Kiedricher Riesling Trocken offers a clear and coolish bouquet of white and yellow-fleshed fruits. Vinified two-thirds in stainless steel

$74

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DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss ‘Ribeauvillé’ 2020

White Blend | France, Alsace

Riesling ~ Sylvanner ~ Pinot Blanc = Seamless, Delicious, Expressive, Beautiful! A blend of mostly Riesling and a small percentage of the Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc. Riesling shining through with perfumed, white flowers, elderflower, lemon citrus and baking spices. This one reminds me of the 2017, fine boned, a sophistication yet with the hallmark complexity and textural intrigue that Deiss always manages to achieve. The quality, line and length of acid here is insane, so gentle yet with a

$75

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Weinbach Les Vignes du Prêcheur 2021

White Blend | France, Alsace

The Preachers Vines – Delicious wine. The non-Riesling component co-ferment field blend shines. Perhaps an unfair statement given the harmonious nature of the wine. Perceived higher alcohol that works in this context driving through the finish with spice. 8 months on lees adding texture and complexity. Heaps of oily phenolics, super complex and perfumed, spiced and baking spice and almost peppery edge, heading down the pear. Fruit tapers a little to finish. Gee it’s a fun wine. You co

$77

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Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett 2020

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

AP: 03 21. The 2020er Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It offers an incredibly subtle feel of pear, cassis, bergamot, white flowers, vineyard peach, wet stone, and fine subtle smoky elements. The wine is stunningly vibrant, subtly multi-layered with ripe and citrusy fruits, but, above all, incredibly light-footed on the palate. The finish is all about elegance and finesse. This stunning Kabinett is clearly still on the backward si

$77

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Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

A juicy wine for the category with plenty of cassis character, but that doesn’t mean it’s really full-bodied. In fact, at the finish it’s quite a light and austere wine with a lot of herbal and green-leaf tea flavors. Drink or hold. Stuart Piggot

$78

$74ea in any 3+

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Fritz Haag Riesling Braunberger-Juffer Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

Very youthful and expressive, with so much mandarin, white peach, nectarine and honeysuckle, this is a beautiful Spätlese, in which the succulent sweetness is beautifully balanced by the lively, lemony acidity. And beneath all this is a mineral core. Stuart Piggot, Suckling Also available in Magnum!

$80

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Joh Jos Prüm Bernkastler Badstube Kabinett Riesling 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

Always a favourite! In England they offer tea in the afternoon in the Mosel they offer Kabinett! Lythe, delicate and transparent. Fine acid with a little savoury reduction. Rich mid-palate, youthful with moderate length. Fine lime fruit. Reduction blows off quickly. The 2020er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett has a cool, reserved, and fresh nose of stone fruits, yellow peach, herbs, and plenty of earthy spices. The wine proves juicy and more fruit-driven on the palate, where some r

$81

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Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

"“Harvested at about the same time as the Grosses Gewächs (GG) and thus about four weeks after the Kabinett Rieslings, the 2020 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese opens with a pure, fresh and remarkably delicate slate bouquet that is already singing. On the palate, the wine is lush yet filigreed and finessed and provided with delicate, lingering salinity and finely concentrated, perfectly ripe fruit. This gorgeous wine was matured two-thirds in steel and one-third in casks. High

$83

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Max Ferdinand Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

"AP: 17 21. The 2020er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 90° Oechsle on over 90-year-old vines and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of pear, coconut, apricot blossom, aniseed herbs, lime, and smoky elements. The wine is beautifully juicy and animating on the palate and leaves a remarkably playful and mouthwatering feel in the fruity and mineral finish. A touch of passion fruit adds an exotic side to the after

$83

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Max Ferdinand Richter Valdenzer Eisenberg ER Spätlese 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

"AP: 19 21. The 2020er Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 87° Oechsle and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (73 g/l). It offers a simply stunning nose made of white peach, apple, pear, passion fruit, and floral elements. The wine is beautifully juicy and animating on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of racy juicy fruits in the long finish. The aftertaste is subtly exotic, multi-layered, hugely animating, and persistent. What a h

$83

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95 MFW 96 SR

Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmerlreich Riesling Kabinett 2021

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

AP: 02 22. The 2021er Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett is a fruity-styled wine driven on the nose by some refined and even very elegant residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation which gradually give way to stunning elements mixing whipped almond cream, vineyard peach, orange blossom, minty herbs, jasmine, and acacia. The wine shows great presence and intensity on the palate yet remains incredibly light and refined. The finish shows all the minerality and stony side of the wine, and

$85

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96 MFW

Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett 2021

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

AP: 03 22. The 2021er Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett AP 03 is a fruity-styled wine with a still quite restrained and smoky nose at first? It takes a while to reveal its complexity and finesse underlined by fine notes of stone fruit, lead pencil, herbs, bergamot, blackberry, cherry, violet, and lavender. The wine is still very tight on the palate but already hints at the greatness to come as there is great density and purity. The finish is still somewhat sharp yet its incredibly multi-layer

$87

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Selbach Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese* 2019

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

"The 2019er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese * was made from fruit harvested at 100° Oechsle and fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (81 g/l). It exhibits some smoky, minty, and ripe scents of pear, quince, almond cream, lavender, pineapple, and smoke on the nose. The wine reveals a more exotic and animating side on the delicate and subtly smooth palate, and leaves one with a feeling of presence and intensity, but all focused and chiseled in the long finish. 2026-2039." Jea

$88

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