World renowned. Washington grown.
2003 Two Vines Riesling
Tasting Notes
“Classic Columbia Valley Riesling aromas of apricot, spiced peach and grapefruit lead to a lively crisp yet subtly sweet finish.” -Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- Vintage 2003 began with a typical bud break in early April.
- Bloom followed in early June. Warm, dry weather conditions during this phase (the start of fruit maturation) contributed to the uniformity of berry maturation at end of season.
- High heat accumulation during late summer–the warmest of the decade–created excellent ripening conditions.
- Very modest precipitation in August and September cooled the vineyards and slowed down the ripening process.
- At harvest, vineyards across the Columbia Valley had excellent physiological maturity and flavor development across varietals.
Vineyards
- Columbia Valley vineyards are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains effectively block eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.
- Just 6 to 8 inches of rainfall reach the growing region annually. Vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.
- The soils have low fertility and low water-holding capacity, allowing precise control of vine growth patterns.
- Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes.
Winemaking
- At pressing, the juice cold settled for two days.
- The juice was inoculated with Steinberger yeast to initiate the 22-days fermentation.
- Cool temperatures throughout the winemaking process enhanced the naturally clean, floral character and crisp acidity.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.79 g/100ml
- pH: 3.01
- Alcohol: 11.5%
- Blend: 100% White Riesling