2021 Montelena Riesling Napa Valley

DEC91 Sweet floral and ripe fruit aromatics from this Riesling grown in Mendocino County’s Potter Valley AVA. The prolonged drought of the 2021 vintage has produced a ripe style of Riesling, its palate offering flavours of beeswax, pollen, ripe pear and apricots and zesty spice. A serious texture and honeyed depth to the finish make this a wine that would pair with a variety of foods.
Estate Notes: Floral and spicy, the intensity here is quite impressive. The ripeness of the vintage is immediately apparent as star jasmine, honeysuckle and fresh apricot are bolstered by cinnamon and clove. The fresh flowers eventually yield to dried peach and mango as the aromas turn tropical with a subtle hint of beeswax. The spice is more subdued on the palate, uncovering a latent suppleness and viscosity, further enhanced by stonefruit as well as ripe, Honeycrisp apple. It’s a beautiful balance that is polished and punctuated by a firm band of acidity transitioning to juicy pear. There’s a soft, roundness on the finish that pulls in all of the minerality of the wine but layers in baked apple and just a touch of lemon rind. The pear is still present but this time as a complement to more tropical notes of lychee and fresh pineapple.