Our Wines: Riesling
2006 Persimmon Creek Vineyards Riesling
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Vineyard: 100% estate grown in cold climate conditions of Northeast Georgia’s Persimmon Creek Valley. Three blocks of west-facing hillside planting of cold-hardy Riesling clone 239, cultivated in rows following the natural contours of the Persimmon Creek site. Well drained, “blonde” alluvial soil of rocky consistency, with large proportions of chalk, limestone, mica and quartz. Vertical Shoot Position trellising and aggressive canopy management are adjusted to soil and climatic conditions to maximize cluster exposure, photosynthesis, and hence, the crisp, balanced, perfumed varietal character of Riesling.
Winemaking: Appellation: Georgia
Dr. William Hardman, vigneron
Blend: 100% estate grown and bottled Riesling
Alcohol: 10.5%
Total Acidity: 0.653g/100mL
pH: 3.0
Residual Sugar: 1%
Harvested: October 3-October 6, 2006
Bottled: March 10, 2007 by hand
Cases: 200
Cellar & Fermentation: Manually harvested then refrigerated to keep floral aromas fresh, gently pressed, and sent to tank. 100% temperature controlled stainless steel fermentation.
Tasting Notes: Flowery fresh fruit fragrance with subtle, minerally notes, followed by lightly sweet, easy, crisply balanced flavors; the floral notes bursting on the back of the palate with nuances of fresh lemon and apricot, finishing almost dry. In “flowery” terms – like carefree days of summer, a garden of flowers under clear blue skies, freshly starched and pressed white linen, and skirts flowing in a warm summer breeze.
The Vineyard: Riesling
The Noble Riesling
Persimmon Creek is the only winery in the state of Georgia that produces
100% estate grown and bottled Riesling, a regally scented grape known
to respond positively only to ideal conditions of terroir.
Riesling is known as a “cold climate” grape; and at over 2,000-ft.
elevations, Persimmon Creek seems to make the vine feel at home. Our
vineyard is always at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than nearby
Atlanta, and we experience snow and occasional single digit winter
temperatures. Rainfall is ample enough for us to grow without irrigation,
and our hillside plantings are extremely well drained. All of our rows are
planted in curved patterns following the natural contours of our slopes,
which are largely west-facing to maximize sun exposure and hence the
photosynthesis that leads to ripe, balanced, flavorful grapes.
Temperatures
Persimmon Creek’s mean temperatures during the crucial months
between bud break and harvest (late April to September) go from the
mid-60s in the beginning and end (May and September), and hover
between the mid-70s and mid-80s in June, July and August. By
comparison, this is a good 10 degrees less than most parts of the West
Coast; and while because of that our grapes take a little more time to
ripen, the lengthier “hang time” makes for development of intense fruit
flavor without loss of natural acidity.
The three vineyard blocks going into our 1%RS Riesling sit on a west facing slope that basks in afternoon sun; and consists of well drained, “blonde” alluvial soils that reflect the sunlight well. This is also the sandiest section of our estate; yet still rocky, its loam consisting of larger proportions of chalk, limestone, mica and quartz than other parts of the vineyard. The end result is a fragrant, flavorful wine that represents the natural grape character well; lithe and gentle on the palate, with crisp, mouthwatering, balancing acidity.
Riesling clone 239 was selected for its cold-hardy wood; and as with the rest of the Persimmon Creek vineyard, the Riesling vines are trellised in Vertical Shoot Position to maximize cluster exposure to sunlight and to allow ease of canopy management in order to attain a proper fruit/foliage balance.
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