2022 Late Harvest Riesling
Tasting Notes
Honeyed fruit and blossom notes open to peach, papaya, and ripe melon on the nose. Grapefruit and tangerine flavors meld into a delicate acid that dances across your tongue on the finish. A slightly fuller-bodied vintage, the 2022 Late Harvest contains about half of the residual sugar compared to the regional style with a present acid tension—less obviously sweet and striking better balance.
Late Harvest translates to Spätlese, which is German for “a special selection of the ripest grapes of the harvest”. In the United States, these wines are often very sweet, but here at Mari we seek balance. Although our Late Harvest is a lush wine with obvious sweetness, the focus is on the ripeness of the fruit flavor, not the residual sugar content. “Late Harvest” is also a legally protected term—under law, no sugar can be added to increase sweetness or alcohol. It is a delicate balancing act of preserving underlying acid structure with the ripe fruit.
Birdcage Series
The bird on the bottle is a symbol of Sean’s journey as Mari’s winemaker. This bird is a magpie with a grape in its mouth, flying from a gilded birdcage, ready to stretch its creative wings.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested from Jamieson Vineyard on October 22nd from its ripest block. After a whole cluster press the grapes were fermented slowly in stainless steel tanks until fermentation was halted to preserve natural sugars and ripe flavor. The wine was fermented and aged on its lees until March 30th to add texture and weight. The finished Late Harvest was bottled on May 18th.
Pairing
Riesling goes well with anything pork, whether it be spicy, sweet, or sour. The wine’s soft fruit and light acidity complement heavier cheese dishes, like baked raclette. Grilled seafood is another seasonable option. For dessert, try complementing the wine’s flavors with a mango sticky rice or crème brûlée.
Cellaring
Riesling ages wonderfully and will evolve in character with maturity. We recommend enjoying now through at least 2033.