Memaloose Wines Idiots Grace Riesling 2012
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Winemaker Notes
Brian McCormick and family came to the Gorge from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley in 2001. He had long wanted to plant in the Columbia Gorge — believing that he could best produce his style of wine in this remarkable location. Rob McCormick and his wife Barbara joined them in the Gorge shortly thereafter.
Planting commenced in 2002 on both sides of the River, at “Idiot’s Grace” in Mosier, and in Parker’s Vineyard at Mistral Ranch in Lyle. The remaining three vineyards were planted on a rolling schedule over the next few years, with completion of the original plan in 2009. A new expansion to the Idiot's Grace vineyard started in 2015.
The original winery was a converted barn on the Mistral Ranch in Lyle, WA., which was occupied in 2006. Our second, and major winery, opens in 2017 on Idiot's Grace farm in Mosier, OR., on the South Bank. Case production has grown from 250 in 2006, to over 2000 in 2016. Eventual plans and capacity are for 3500 cases.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Straddling the Columbia River Gorge with vineyards in both Washington and Oregon, this 40 mile stretch of vineyards, starting about an hour drive east of the city of Portland, grows a wide variety of grapes, including everything from Syrah to Gewürztraminer.