2022 Classic Semi-Dry Riesling
Tech Notes:
Alcohol: 10.2%
Residual Sugar: 1.98%
Harvest date: Sep 30-Oct 23, 2022
Bottling date: August 6th, 2023
Cases: 1416
T.A: 9.4g/L
pH: 3.01
V.A: .32g/L
Brix: 20.2 avg
Fermentation: 100% Stainless Steel
Residual Sugar: 1.98%
Harvest date: Sep 30-Oct 23, 2022
Bottling date: August 6th, 2023
Cases: 1416
T.A: 9.4g/L
pH: 3.01
V.A: .32g/L
Brix: 20.2 avg
Fermentation: 100% Stainless Steel
Vintage Conditions:
The 2022 vintage was largely affected by the first three weeks of the calendar year, in January. The first three weeks of the year had a serious temperature dip reaching as low as -14F creating a significantly short crop. While we never want mother nature to dictate our yields like that, it does mean more even and efficient ripening most times due to the lower crop load. This was certainly the case this year. Coming out of winter we experienced drought like conditions all the way through the summer until mid-August. Berry weights were miniscule on an already tiny crop creating intense concentration in most of the fruit. Also having abundant sunlight and moderate to warm temperatures made for efficient ripening and the start of one of our earliest harvests ever. Rain did start to roll occasionally in August and September which helped to prolong harvest giving us a chance to develop superior flavor ripening. Overall, the vintage is about a fine balance of great concentration just shy of 2020, moderate acidity and brilliant flavors.
Winemaking:
All of the lots were fermented separately and went through a similar processing prior to fermentation where they were destemmed and pressed with the press fraction being separated to the Semi-Sweet Classic for phenolic textures. Only free run was used for the Semi-Dry. After cold settling the lots were racked to stainless steel for fermentation. Fermentation lasted between 22 days (Keuka Estate) and 62 days (Block 4). Post fermentation the blending trials were done and the lots were racked and blended together.
Vineyard Conditions:
Morris Vineyard Block 4 – One of the deeper soil blocks on Morris vineyard with silt loam (clay) over shale. The deeper clay keeps the vines roots cooler and more accessible to water in years like 2022 (dry) allowing for slower ripening and brighter acidity as well as an abundance of fruit.
Morris Vineyard Block 1 – lower down the slopes and on the southern portion if the vineyard this is all about being a shale driven, slightly steeper portion of the vineyard with great drainage. The resulting wines are slightly austere but concentrated and rely more on the savory and mineral aspects of what Riesling can offer.
Doyle Pulteney – Steep east facing slopes a couple miles north of the winery. Largely shallow soils over shale combined with morning sunlight and limited hot afternoon sunlight make for crisp acidity, mineral and citrus driven wines.
Keuka Estate – Our vineyard on site of the winery comprises of 10 acres Riesling, 1 acre Vidal Blanc and 2.5 acres of Cabernet Franc. Most of the vineyard is a relatively gentle east facing slope toward Keuka Lake at one of the coolest points along the lake due to the gap in the hills behind the winery allowing cool air to flow through our site draining down toward the lake. The soil is comprised of shale and loam allowing for a very well drained and mineral driven site. Combined with the cooler temperatures of the site, lead to fruit with wonderful purity, mineral expression, and fresh acidity.
Sheldrake Point – Moderate east facing slopes almost right up against the shoreline of the west side of Cayuga lake. Always the last to ripen and be picked with great moderation from the lake, the resulting fruit is a complex balance of ultra ripe fruit, married with some still austere citrus notes, great length, and power.