Meyer Family 2015 Riesling 750ml

2015 Riesling
Fleet Road Vineyard, Naramata BC

THE VINTAGE
In 2015 we had one of the earliest budbursts on record as mild temperatures began in March with budburst occurring in mid April. The earliness of the season meant our harvest dates would also be earlier than they would in an average year. Lower spring rainfall and warmer than average temperatures led to a very dry start to the growing season. Summer temperatures and rainfall were typical for the Okanagan with beautiful days and warm nights. Heading into fall, we knew that harvest was going to be early. The weather conditions could not have been better with warm but not hot days and cooler nights prevailing going into September; harvest began on the 7thof September. Due to the dryness of the season and superb viticultural practices, all the parcels of fruit were in pristine condition with very ripe flavours and balanced acidity and sugar levels.
Hand harvested on: Oct 1 st
Sugar Level: 24 brix, pH: 3.01, TA: 7.5 g/L

THE TERROIR
Our belief is focusing on varietals and wines that we feel are best suited to the Okanagan and the individual terroir of each vineyard has led us to make this very small batch of Riesling from fruit sourced from a single vineyard on Fleet Road on the Naramata Bench. The soil is alluvial based with a silt loam overlying a clay loam. The vineyard has a gently sloping south west aspect which captures the full range of the sun from east to west.

WINEMAKING
One half of the fruit was loaded straight from the vineyard into the press and was slowly and gently whole bunch pressed to maximize juice quality without extracting harsh flavours. The other half was destemmed and slightly crushed and left to soak with the skins for 10 hours then gently pressed. Both lots were combined and a long cool fermentation occurred in a stainless steel vat lasting 4 weeks with the ensuing wine being left on its fine lees for a further four months before bottling in early spring.

Parameters at Bottling
Alcohol: 14%, pH: 3.07, TA: 6.6 g/L
Bottling date: Apr-21-2016, Production: 350 cases
Drink now through 2020