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The 2006 vintage was another interesting and challenging vintage. With the exception of a ten-day heat spell in July the weather was cool and the harvest was long. Spring temperatures were perfect for flowering and the crop rebounded to normal from the miserly production of 2005. Our production of both Riesling and Chardonnay is still off normal because of replanting our vineyards due to phylloxera. We are very pleased with the 2006 Riesling. It has a lovely pale color, still with just the hint of its green skin color. This vintage has more of a tropical fruit aroma than past vintages, with pineapples, mangoes and grapefruit and then finishes with very pronounced Riesling flavors.
Beginning with our 1983 Riesling vintage we boldly went where no other American winery would go for the next 17 years – we changed our label from Johannisberg Riesling to the true and correct name – Riesling. While White Riesling is legally correct, it is none the less both wrong and redundant – when was the last time you had a red Riesling? This is just one example of our commitment to this wonderful and no longer overlooked varietal.
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AGE OF VINES:
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34 years |
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APPELLATION:
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Napa Valley |
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SUB-APPELLATION:
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Spring Mountain District |
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FARMING:
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dry-farmed mountain
vineyards |
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VARIETAL CONTENT:
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100% Riesling |
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ALCOHOL:
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12.5% |
pH: |
3.01 |
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RESIDUAL SUGAR:
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dry, 0.75% |
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CASES:
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712 cases |
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WINEMAKERS & WINEGROWERS:
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CHARLES SMITH & STUART SMITH |
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