West Coast Late Harvest Rieslings

[wondersofwine]

This week I opened a 2001 Hogue Late Harvest White Riesling Columbia Valley ((Washington) and a 1999 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge White Riesling Late Harvest.
The Greenwood Ridge had more of what I look for in a late harvest riesling. It was 10.5% alcohol, medium gold color, mouth filling.
It had botrytis aroma with figs and flowers entering in. Taste of nectar, fig, pear syrup, lingering finish. I would score it as
very good, close to outstanding. (Maybe not the complexity of some German beerenauslese wines.) The label price was confusing--said $21.99 for 750 ml but it was a 375 ml bottle.
I suspect I paid $21.99 and that the 750 ml
was a typo. Purchased from Macarthur's Beverages in D.C.
The Hogue late harvest was pale straw color and had a muted aroma. I would describe the nose as sweet clover, pear and citrus. It didn't have the bouquet or taste I associate with botrytized (sp?) wines.
Somewhat bland I thought. It was 24 degrees Brix at harvest and 4.5% residual sugar. A note on the Greenwood Ridge website says that in the years when they are able to produce a late harvest riesling, the residual sugar is 15% to 25%. So there was quite a contrast between the two wines. The Greenwood Ridge was definitely a dessert wine.

[winoweenie]

Hi WOW. Greenwood Ridge has consistantly over the last 10 years produced some great wines and great P/Q values. Not nearly the high volume producer as Hogue, who I also think as superior P/Q. WW

[wondersofwine]

Thanks for your reply WW. I did bid on some Greenwood Ridge Pinot Noir and Greenwood Ridge Zinfandel at the silent auction at Triangle Wine Experience but was outbid. I may be able to find their wines in Cary or Raleigh, NC since I think the auction wines were donated by a local retailer. Do you have experience with either the P.N. or Zin?

[winoweenie]

Agin' WOW ole pal, they be super P/Q wines. GR is the only outside winery that Scherrer is selling his killer Zin grapes to. WW

[Innkeeper]

Not only is all the above ringing true, but on a much more inexpensive note, they make a killer white riesling that sells for around $10. If you use the search function you will find many posts on what I consider the best QPR riesling made west of Mississippi and east of the Rhine.

[Innkeeper]

Enjoyed another of the '01 Greenwood Ridge White Rieslings tonight with grillpanned pork chops and salad. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Innkeeper]

Last of the '01s last night with curried eggs (http://www.wines.com/ubb2/Forum16/HTML/000195.html). Mother has complained about the sweetness of this riesling when served with the wrong thing, but with the curry it was perfect on both sides of the table.