Stony Ridge Winery

Ahhhh, Riesling and summertime are meant for one another, especially when there’s just a touch of sweetness and the acidity is omnipresent, but not overwhelming. The fruit for this nimble, graceful wine came from the Madrona vineyard in El Dorado, at about 3000’ elevation. Picked at 22.3 Brix, the wine was tank fermented and has 2.25% residual sugar. But it’s nicely low in alcohol, and has bright fresh flavors of peaches and sweet ruby red grapefruit to keep it interesting. Just a touch of botrytis adds a nice honeyed note to this wine. The aromas of grapefruit, Earl Grey tea and lavender show up nicely on the palate. There is a distinctive minerality to the wine that complements the crisp Bosc pear and silky white nectarine flavors.

Everything about this wine is light-footed and graceful. It’s silky sheer and chiffonlike and makes one think of those breezy summer dresses that women should wear to weddings instead of pant suits. This wine evoked a pleasant memory of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Summertime Dream” album, with all those slightly nostalgic tunes about growing up in a country setting, where life’s simple pleasures included hanging out at the swimming hole. If you want to reflect on some pleasant memories of summers gone by, crack open a bottle of this well-chilled Riesling and let your mind take a lighthearted, and light-footed, summer vacation.

(Alc: 12.5%, Retail: $10.50)

Reviewed September 12, 2006 by Laura Ness.