Navarro Vineyards - 2018 Riesling

2018 Riesling
Cluster Select Late Harvest
Anderson Valley, Mendocino
- (375 ml) $39.00
- (750 ml) Sold Out!

The late show

The first of October brought light showers followed by wet, foggy weather. A couple of days later we inspected our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vineyards and fortunately found no rot; we didn't bother to inspect the Riesling where rot isn't usually a problem. Riesling is a late ripener and by the time we got around to harvesting it, we were astounded by the amount of rot. Not just any old rot, but clean botrytis without a trace of funk. We selectively harvested all the clusters with dehydrated, botrytised raisins and destemmed them into bins to macerate with the small amount of juice available. After pressing, the elixir was cool-fermented and when the alcohol approached 10%, the fermentation slowed then finally stopped. The wine, albeit sweet, is delightfully piquant and its high acidity promises a long, delicious life. Double Gold Medal winner. Best of Show. 98 points.

A cluster of riesling that is starting to dry and and concentrate flavors due to botrytis

The raisins in this photo were shriveled by botrytis, a rot that dominates in cool viticultural climates—in spite of the greyish mold, they taste delicious. The shriveling doubles the concentration of Riesling's apple-citrus flavors and the botrytis adds intense flavors that resemble apricot and honey. This cluster select is the wine you should squirrel away for your grandchildren as German trockenbeerenauslese can live for a century or two.

Ted showing off his new press to neighbor Mark in 1977. In those early years, Anderson Valley was a haven for youthful "back-to-the-landers" and we were always surprised how many of our acquaintances lived in teepees. Come to think of it, we live in a repurposed barn.

Ted showing off his new wine grape press to neighbor Mark in 1977

Mark in 1977 tending the riesling vines he planted at Valley Foothill Vineyard, our nextdoor neighbor.

Mark in 1977, tending the Riesling vines he planted at Valley Foothills Vineyard, our next door neighbor. They produced their first Riesling crop in 1979; we liked the wine so much that we've purchased Valley Foothill's Riesling grapes every vintage since. They are the only Riesling grapes we purchase, accounting for about a third of Navarro's Riesling wine production.

Specifications

Harvested: Oct. 14 to 18, 2018
Sugars at harvest: 37.0° Brix
Bottled: Feb. 27, 2019
Cases produced: 554
Alcohol: 10.8 %
Residual sugars: 20.4 %
Titratable acidity: 11.8 g/L
pH: 3.00

2019 Cluster Select Late Harvest Riesling, Anderson Valley

95 points. “A honeyed beauty.” —Robert Whitley, “The Platinum Parade,” Wine Review Online. June 7, 2020.

96 points. “This intense, deep and wonderfully complex wine offers delicious layers of apricot, honey and toasted almond that waft up from the glass, coat the mouth and linger long on the finish. It's a rare treat for special occasions, and will age nicely through at least 2030.” —Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast.

“This white gold colored "Late Harvest" dessert wine from Navarro opens with a green tea and apricot bouquet with hints of clove, honey and musty apple mush. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, round, slightly viscous and medium sweet. The flavor profile is a candied apricot with notes of oolong tea and ginger. We also detected some hints of golden raisin, honey and apple cider mixed in. The finish remains sweet and this wine sails along for a very long time. The Panel suggested pairing this sipper with a lemon pound cake with a raspberry compote and sweet icing. Enjoy.” —Ken’s Wine Guide, September 16, 2020.

2018 Cluster Select Late Harvest Riesling, Anderson Valley

96 points. “Intense sugary aromas of honey and peach nectar give way to bright, vivid and superripe fruity, floral flavors that explode on the palate with apricot, orange and almond notes that are very concentrated and sweet. This rare wine has wonderful layering, depth and intensity, and balances its sweetness beautifully with tangy acidity. Best through 2035” —Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast.

2016 Cluster Select Late Harvest Riesling, Anderson Valley

“Yet another beautiful wine from Navarro is forward on the palate with thick body, expressive fruit, finely honed balance, highly pleasing personality and extended finish.” —John Vankat, “Pine Wine: Dessert wines for Valentine’s Day” Arizona Daily Sun, Feb. 6, 2009.

“This pale straw-colored dessert Riesling from Navarro opens with a mild pineapple bouquet with a hint of peach and rubber cement. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, rather sweet and round. Yet, it is also slightly acidic and juicy. There is a lot going on with this wine. The flavor profile is a candied ginger and pineapple blend with notes of ripe pear and apricot. We also detected hints of honey, banana and Smarties candy. The finish remains sweet and lasts for a very long time. This is one of the most complex dessert wines we have covered in a very long time.” —Ken’s Wine Guide

2014 Cluster Select White Riesling

This authentic late-harvest wine smells exotically ripe and fruity, tastes like candied apricot and pecans, and offers a luxurious and mouthcoating texture and extreme sweetness. Lively acidity balances out the richness for a satisfying taste that's not cloying..- Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, November 1, 2016

2013 Cluster Select White Riesling

This dessert wine has great color depth and impressive strength and complexity on the nose. Delightfully expressive Riesling fruit is balanced by underlying crisp acidity on the palate. Attractive complexity and refinement are expressed throughout a prolonged finish.John Vankat, Arizona Daily Sun, January 11, 2017.

Navarro is a perennial winner at the North of the Gate completion, often in multiple categories This year's outstanding entry was its sweet late harvest Riesling. Similar in style to German berrenauslese, this succulent wine has a lovely perfumed nose and rich honeyed fruit on the palate. It is bolstered with sufficient and structure to keep from being cloying Pefect by itself after a meal- Virginie Boone, Piedmond Post, June 11, 2014

2011 Cluster Select White Riesling

Dark golden in color, this late-harvest Riesling, which was allowed to develop botrytis after two October 2011 storms, has knockout, sweet honey and apricot goodness from start to finish. It’s round and concentrated, and it has 12.9% residual sugar. Incredible on its own, this will also pair well with peach- and pineapple-based desserts, foie gras and blue cheeses.- Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast, April 1, 2013

Wine of the Year -

Extremely clean, luscious Riesling character and well-balanced, so it will age at least 3-5 more years.- Dan Berger, Critic's Challenge Wine Competition, 2012

Lovely ripe ripe pear and citrus flavors with plenty of acidity to keep sweetness from cloying .- - Elin McCoy, Critic's Challenge Wine Competition, 2012

2007 Cluster Select White Riesling

Tobacco leaf, orange marmalade and apricot flavors have a surprising twang of acidity midpalate, where the honey, spice and ripe citrus flavors kick in. Drink now through 2013. 503 cases made. James Laube, Wine Spectator, Web Only 2010.

This bottling is usually among the more opulent, successful white dessert wines in California, and the ‘07 certainly fits that bill. With 20.1% residual sugar, it’s fantastically sweet, yet has enough fruity stuffing, balanced by high acidity, to satisfy...a very delicious dessert wine. Steve Heimoff , Wine Enthusiast, April 2010.

Tobacco leaf, orange marmalade and apricot flavors have a surprising twang of acidity midpalate, where the honey, spice and ripe citrus flavors kick in. Drink now through 2013.Maryann Worobiec, WineSpectator.com, Online Only .

This golden colored dessert wine from Navarro was a big time hit a recent tasting I conducted. It opens with an intense rich apricot and honey bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, concentrated, and very rich. The flavor profile is a delicious ripe tangerine with notes of apricot and peach. The finish is pleasantly sweet and rather lengthy. This is a very special dessert wine the will fascinate your guests. It would pair perfectly with a custard tart topped with ripe fruit. Enjoy – Ken Hoggins, KensWineGuide.com, November 2, 2009.

2006 Cluster Select White Riesling

Rich and luscious, showing floral honey and spicy golden raisin aromas, with succulent, sweet pineapple and cinnamon flavors that are balanced with a hint of acidity. Drink now. 500 cases made. Tim Fish, Wine Spectator, September 30, 2008.

2005 Cluster Select White Riesling

Viscous, warm and hugely sweet, this Riesling will satisfy a sweet tooth. - Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits, August 2007.

My favorites were two Navarro wines… the 2005 Cluster Select Late Harvest Riesling … is lusciously sweet with a rich apricot flavor and bracing acidity that balances the sweetness. - Laurie Daniel, San Jose Mercury News, August 30, 2006.

2004 Cluster Select White Riesling

Stunning Riesling florality along with hints of peach, apricot, and honey. An utterly amazing wine, similar to a great ice wine, with perfect acid and pH to balance the sugar. Not to be missed. - Dan Berger Vintage Experiences, November 10, 2005.

2001 Cluster Select White Riesling

Lychee and pineapple nose gives way to luscious, botrytised honey- laced flavors of apricot and pear. Light flicker of acidity balances the pronounced sweetness. - Stett Holbrook, San Francisco Chronicle, "Sweet Surrender", April 8, 2004.

The 2001 Late-Harvest Cluster Select White Riesling is stunning. - Laurie Daniel, San Jose Mercury News, "Sweet Surrender", February 11, 2004.

1997 Cluster Select White Riesling

Old-gold in color, and thick and syrupy. The aromas run to caramel, apricots, toffee, butterscotch, vanilla, pecan pie and crème brulee. Tastes as voluptuous as it smells. Fantastic concentration and depth; a nectar bursting with sweet gorgeous fruit. The acidity is high, but it feels soft and creamy. Residual sugar of 28% makes it tooth-achingly sweet. Only 554 cases produced, but worth the search. - Wine Enthusiast, Special Issue: Best of Year 2001.

1997 Cluster Select Late Harvest White Riesling - The term "white" Riesling comes from the days when California winemakers made "gray" and "emerald" Rieslings, using grapes that were different from the true Riesling grown in Germany and Alsace. This wine, a late-harvest cluster select white Riesling, has the characteristic flavors of botrytis - butterscotch and caramel - combined with apricots, a typical aroma in a ripe Riesling. On the palate this wine is intensely sweet but with enough acid that it's not cloying. It makes a great stand-alone dessert. - James Peterson, Sweet Wines, Fall 2002.