Eroica 2016 Ice Wine Riesling Horse Heaven Hills 375 ml by Chateau Ste Michelle

375 ml "half bottle"

"Unctuous and rich, yet deftly balanced, with lively acidity and floral pear, orange zest and spiced honey flavors that linger on the long finish. Drink now. " 94 Points Wine Spectator

Launched in 1999, Eroica is a labor of love for two of the world’s great Riesling producers. One from the Old World, Dr. Loosen estate of Germany, and the other from the New World, Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington state. An intermingling of Old and New World philosophies and techniques enables the crafting of an extraordinary Riesling from Washington state grapes. Named for Beethoven’s Third Symphony, Eroica reflects not only its variety and site, but also its heritage: bold and forward from its Washington roots, elegant and refined from German inspiration.

TASTING NOTES
“The Eroica Riesling Ice Wine is an exotic, luscious, ultra-ripe wine with concentrated aromas and flavors of apricot and honey. The concentrated acidity balances the wine leaving a bright, long finish. This wine is made in partnership with German winemaker Ernst Loosen, famed for his German Rieslings and Eiswein.”

V I N E Y A R D S
~ Eroica begins in the vineyard with Ernst Loosen and Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker
Bob Bertheau collaborating on site selection, irrigation management, crop levels
and canopy management.
~ They work with vineyard managers to adjust yields and manage fruit exposure to prolong
the ripening season for added flavor development of these cooler climate vineyards.
~ Grapes were harvested from our Horse Heaven Vineyard, located in the Horse Heaven Hills adjacent to the Columbia River.

WINEMAKING
~ Frozen grapes were picked at 47.1 degrees Brix.
~ The hard, frozen grapes were pressed immediately to release only the sweet, concentrated juice, while the water stays behind in the form of ice.
~ The juice is highly concentrated in sugar, acidity, and flavor. This combination yields less than half the normal juice volume and nearly double the sugar concentration of juice from other white grape varieties.
~ The juice underwent a slow, cold three week fermentation to preserve the rich, concentrated Riesling aromas and natural fruit character.