|
|
| Chateau/Producer: | Joseph Phelps | | Wine Name: | Eisrebe | | Country: | USA | | State: | California | | Region: | Napa Valley | | Wine Score: | 90 | | Notes: | Although this wine has a nice straight golden color, its scent was heavy on alcohol. It basically smelled like white wine. So I was surprised when I tasted it, and it was quite sweet, not heavy with alcohol flavor. The mouth feel is a bit thicker than an ordinary wine, but just a touch. There is a fruity, pineappley taste, but it underlies the first taste, sweetness. Since I like sweets, this worked for me, but it doesn't quite have the balance that might win over someone else. This is another one of those faux ice wines made from artificially frozen grapes. | | Tasting Date: | 2004-07-20 | | Varietal: | Scheurebe | | Production Notes: | In 1916, German botanist George Scheu announced that he had developed a new wine grape by crossing Sylvaner and Riesling. The hybrid was characterized by the desirable yield and ripening qualities of Sylvaner as well as by remarkably fragrant, floral aromas and flavors reminiscent of Riesling. In 1956 the vine was named Scheurebe in honor of its breeder.
In 1974, Joseph Phelps budded a small plot of vines on his Spring Valley estate to Scheurebe and over several years experimented with the grapes, releasing a number of late-harvest wines in later vintages. In 1994, the idea and production of the wine were taken a step further in the desire to produce an ice wine. Traditionally, ice wine, or "Eiswein," has long been produced in Germany from extremely late harvest grapes which are picked frozen, often as late as mid-December. When the grapes are crushed, the frozen water is eliminated from the juice, concentrating sugar and extract, resulting in a lusciously sweet dessert wine.
Grapes for Eisr | | Price US$: | 14.99 | | Source: | Marcello's, Baton Rouge, LA |
|
