One of my favourite finds from my trip to Washington state (although, I did purchase it in the Willamette Valley) and I was so pleased to see it on the tasting table at the 6 Nations tasting in Sydney recently. This is an ongoing collaboration between Chateau Ste Michelle (USA) and Dr Loosen (Germany), one of Germany’s best wine exports. The first Eroica vintage was 1999. The fruit is sourced from Washington’s Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley and fermented in small batches with each having to earn their place in the final blend.
A medium sweet riesling with 22 g/L residual sugar to smooth out the palate, leaving the lemon and lime fruit pure and zesty on the nose, underlined with some sweet blossom notes. There is honey on the palate along with savoury spice and peel on the finish. The balance of this wine is impressive and the finish is long and lean.
It is well worth seeking out if you are in Australia, it is quite a departure from the bone dry Clare & Eden Valley Rieslings. It does appear from time to time on the shelves though. Drink now or splash out and buy a few for short term cellaring. I am going to hoard mine for a good few years and pull it out to remind me of my great visit.
Date: December 2012 & October 2013 Price: $40+ (AUD) Value: $$ Drink: Now – 5 years
One of my favourites.
Certainly has a lushness that our Rieslings are not quite hitting at that sweetness mark, Jack. Only 22 grammar too. Must be the Dr L touch.
Yeah, just enough to balance out the acid.