Long Shadows Vintners, Poet's Leap Riesling 2015, 375ml, Columbia Valley, Washington

Famed German producer Armin Diel and Walla Walla’s affable and talented Gilles Nicault continue to prove they have Riesling dialed in for Allen Shoup’s star-studded program on Frenchtown Road. The vineyard sourcing remains consistent with Sonnet Vineyard at The Benches (47%) in the Horse Heaven Hills, Phil Church Vineyard (25%) in the Yakima Valley and Dionysus Vineyard (20%) along the Columbia River, a blend complemented this year by cool Underwood Mountain (8%) in the Columbia Gorge. The collaboration also remains firm on their presentation of residual sugar – 1.25%. Bright aromatics of apple blossom, cotton candy, Honeycrisp apple and apricot are matched on the palate, which offers beautiful acidity and terrific length.