Bonnydooner got the assessment of this wine spot on, so I will defer to that tasting note. Reminding me more of a riesling from alsace rather than german or california. More rounded character in the mouth and floral aromas and flavor. Not going to improve from here, drink up!
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A: Medium gold N: Honeysuckle, Peach, frangipane, quince, lime peel, ginger. Pronounced intensity. Fully developed. P: Dry, high acid, medium (-) alcohol (12.2%), medium body, pronounced intensity and medium (+) finish C: BLIC? balanced, length, intensity. Its a very good quality wine. Its from Columbia Valley, Washington. I would drink this now. There is no upside to aging.
Winemaking:
Two-thirds of the grapes for the 2012 Sphinx Riesling were handled as whole clusters to preserve their bright, energetic character, with the other third crushed on skin contact to add weight and intensity. To enhance complexity, 60% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel using native yeast, with the other 40% fermented in neutral French oak using an Austrian yeast selection. The final wine is bone dry with 1.2 g/L of residual sugar, and an alcohol content of 12.2%.
GUESSES: The high acidity on this grape and the honeyed nature brought me to Chenin Blanc but that peachiness lead me to Riesling as a final conclusion. The nature of the fruit and intensity made me think moderate climate. Never guessed Washington.
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Hazy golden straw color. Nose is thankfully not fusel oil influenced, but definite star fruit and a trace of plastic in nose. Taste is watery at first, but finishes in more star fruit and kiwi. Nothing sweet about this, dry, almost too much so. Lacks acidity and it shows. But an interesting effort that’s not a total petrol mess.
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I liked this. It did not have the class or complexity of a German Mosel, but was mouthfilling and ripe, but with lightness and some tension. Maybe a little bitter on the finish., despite the citrus sweetness. Nose was nice, light petrol and citrus. Overall, a nice wine, but clearly at the end of life.
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Canary yellow color. Nose is intensely starfruit, complete with the sometimes waxy sense of the skin. Hardly any petrol in my bottle, which I’m very pleased about. Still bright but not cloying, with mouthfeel but clearly entering final phases. Still, quite good. Amazing with milk-based curries.
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Characteristic Riesling nose of petrol, but the the palate is oddly lacking in fruit - almost watery. I wonder if this bottle is a bad bottle. The leftovers completely oxidized after less than 48 hours in the refrigerator.
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I purchased two of these and wish I had bought more. This reminded me so much of an Old World Riesling. Dry, with potentially just a touch of RS. Extremely petrol on the nose, blew off with a little air, but mineral driven the whole time. Did have some fruit, apple, pear, but honestly not a fruit driven wine. Also had a hint of candied ginger. I know the grapes come from a Biodynamic source and I wouldn't be surprised if they had a small amount of Botrytis as well... Drinks like a lower tier Alsatian Grand Cru, but above the village level...
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Had this at a NYC Chinese restaurant with my wine group. I liked it, but most of my group didn't care for it. I thought it had a palate cleansing acidity, along with notes of green apple. Its very good, but not great. At the price I paid, ($16) it was a QPR winner. Some of my group thought they tasted olives....
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Generous nose. Ripe peach, lemon, lemongrass, sea shell. Moderately long finish with floral lift. Unctuous texture reminds me of Viognier, but that's not necessarily bad, especially at $14 a bottle.
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4/1/2019 - lelandinmichigan wrote: 89 Points
Bonnydooner got the assessment of this wine spot on, so I will defer to that tasting note. Reminding me more of a riesling from alsace rather than german or california. More rounded character in the mouth and floral aromas and flavor. Not going to improve from here, drink up!
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10/4/2018 - Heynetty wrote:
Heights Dojo - Blind - Thurs Oct 4th - Inaugural Meeting: Tasted Blind
A: Medium gold
N: Honeysuckle, Peach, frangipane, quince, lime peel, ginger. Pronounced intensity. Fully developed.
P: Dry, high acid, medium (-) alcohol (12.2%), medium body, pronounced intensity and medium (+) finish
C: BLIC? balanced, length, intensity. Its a very good quality wine. Its from Columbia Valley, Washington. I would drink this now. There is no upside to aging.
Winemaking:
Two-thirds of the grapes for the 2012 Sphinx Riesling were handled as whole clusters to preserve their bright, energetic character, with the other third crushed on skin contact to add weight and intensity. To enhance complexity, 60% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel using native yeast, with the other 40% fermented in neutral French oak using an Austrian yeast selection. The final wine is bone dry with 1.2 g/L of residual sugar, and an alcohol content of 12.2%.
GUESSES:
The high acidity on this grape and the honeyed nature brought me to Chenin Blanc but that peachiness lead me to Riesling as a final conclusion. The nature of the fruit and intensity made me think moderate climate. Never guessed Washington.
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8/15/2018 - JasonG wrote: 85 Points
Hazy golden straw color. Nose is thankfully not fusel oil influenced, but definite star fruit and a trace of plastic in nose. Taste is watery at first, but finishes in more star fruit and kiwi. Nothing sweet about this, dry, almost too much so. Lacks acidity and it shows. But an interesting effort that’s not a total petrol mess.
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6/28/2018 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
I liked this. It did not have the class or complexity of a German Mosel, but was mouthfilling and ripe, but with lightness and some tension. Maybe a little bitter on the finish., despite the citrus sweetness. Nose was nice, light petrol and citrus. Overall, a nice wine, but clearly at the end of life.
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1/13/2018 - JasonG wrote: 88 Points
Canary yellow color. Nose is intensely starfruit, complete with the sometimes waxy sense of the skin. Hardly any petrol in my bottle, which I’m very pleased about. Still bright but not cloying, with mouthfeel but clearly entering final phases. Still, quite good. Amazing with milk-based curries.
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10/23/2017 - jayw wrote:
Characteristic Riesling nose of petrol, but the the palate is oddly lacking in fruit - almost watery. I wonder if this bottle is a bad bottle. The leftovers completely oxidized after less than 48 hours in the refrigerator.
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9/3/2017 - kdubler wrote:
I purchased two of these and wish I had bought more. This reminded me so much of an Old World Riesling. Dry, with potentially just a touch of RS. Extremely petrol on the nose, blew off with a little air, but mineral driven the whole time. Did have some fruit, apple, pear, but honestly not a fruit driven wine. Also had a hint of candied ginger. I know the grapes come from a Biodynamic source and I wouldn't be surprised if they had a small amount of Botrytis as well... Drinks like a lower tier Alsatian Grand Cru, but above the village level...
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7/11/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 87 Points
Had this at a NYC Chinese restaurant with my wine group. I liked it, but most of my group didn't care for it. I thought it had a palate cleansing acidity, along with notes of green apple. Its very good, but not great. At the price I paid, ($16) it was a QPR winner. Some of my group thought they tasted olives....
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4/11/2017 - fmginc Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wonderful mix of fruits
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11/22/2016 - jayw Likes this wine:
Generous nose. Ripe peach, lemon, lemongrass, sea shell. Moderately long finish with floral lift. Unctuous texture reminds me of Viognier, but that's not necessarily bad, especially at $14 a bottle.
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11/19/2016 - fmginc Likes this wine: 88 Points
great surprise, ripe fruit, nose full and rich
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9/25/2016 - Motz wrote: 89 Points
Big whack of play-do and clay on the nose. Dry, very good acid, balanced. 88-89.
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4/2/2015 - jmcmchi wrote:
Dry, licorice on palate - fairly crisp
Slate on nose
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10/11/2014 - ewill wrote:
Dusky yellow color. Lemon high notes and slight butterscotch in base. Big mouthfeel for riesling
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