Rigour & Whimsy 2021 Bite of the Dragon Riesling 750ml

Rigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This riesling comes off Suicide Block (the steepest, western facing section) of God's Mountain Vineyard, in Okanagan Falls, at an altitude of 380m. It was whole bunch pressed into stainless, aided into fermentation by a 20L tip of fermenting juice from another God's Mountain site. Once the ferment kicked off, this was racked into 2 puncheons, 1 barrique, and stainless tank, where it remained 4 months prior to firming up back in stainless before bottling unfined and unfiltered. This bone dry riesling has a nervy, stony, herbal lime leaf edge, shaping the medium, textural palate, and drawing white grapefruit, lime pith, white pepper, green apple, Asian pear, and fine, earthy lees through the saline finish. There's a lot to unfurl here, much like the dragon on the label (or the one within us). Let your preconceived notions of riesling go and try this, preferably at cellar temperature.

Score: 90 points -- Treve Ring, Gismondi On Wine