2007 3 Blind Moose Columbia Valley Riesling
Tasting Notes
The moose needed a “Riesling to Believe,” so they created this fresh, delicate white wine with fragrant honey, lemon-lime, orange peel, and apricot aromas and succulent apricot and tangerine flavors. Now all they need is some schnitzel with moostard!
Vintage 2007
In 2007, the moose ordered up a mild winter, warm spring, and temperate summer. Then they conjured a cool, dry September and October to create optimal ripening conditions for their moost excellent Washington State Riesling grapes. The last berries were harvested on Halloween day, after which the moose dressed up as big, hairy animals.
Vineyards
Our Riesling grapes come from the Columbia Valley in eastern Washington
State, a dry, sunny growing region sheltered from Pacific Coast storms by the Cascade Mountains. The first eastern Washington wine was made in the late 18th century by General George Moosington, who
mistakenly cut down his wife Martha’s Riesling vine, then made amends by fermenting its berries so Martha had something to serve with her cherry pie.
Winemaking
The moose avoid any silly winemaking shenanigans–like oak–that might detract from the Riesling grape’s perfumed aromas and deliciously fruity flavors. They ferment the wine entirely in stainless steel tanks and bottle it shortly after the New Year to ensure they have something fresh and tasty to drink during their spring Moosecapades tour.
Technical Info
Harvest Dates:
September 26–October 31, 2007
Average Brix at Harvest:
22.5º (The moose do the Yellow Brix Road!)
Fermentation:
We tanked it
Aging:
Not much
Alcohol:
12.1% (Obviously, it’s not from California)
Total Acid:
0.71 (Dude!)
pH:
3.13 (How low can you go?)
R.S.
1.9% (on the Really Spiffy meter)