2022 Linden Vineyards Riesling
STYLE
The swan song vintage. Our Riesling vineyard is now gone: a victim of climate change. This cool climate grape was not happy with the warming trends that we have been experiencing. The aroma has a unique orange rind pop. This vintage was fermented dry, meaning there is no sweetness in the finished wine.
FOOD PAIRINGS
Riesling is considered a summer wine with its lighter body and crisp acidity, but in the winter, we use it as a “greeter” wine when having guests over. It pairs well with smoked fish (especially trout), prosciutto, Gruyere cheese, or cold shrimp. We have also had it with oysters on the half shell.
VINEYARD
Avenius Vineyard (100%), Warren Co. is just 1 mile north of Linden Vineyards at 1,300 feet elevation with an eastern slope. Soils are primarily greenstone. Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1998, Petit Verdot in 1999 and Merlot was planted in 2007 and 2012. This cool site retains red fruit character and a strong acidity that rewards aging.
VINTAGE
The weather of vintage 2022 initially challenged winegrowers with climate change influenced inconsistency. However a key stretch of September sun and low humidity ultimately ripened some impressive grapes.
April bud break was early. Four inches of snow fell just before budbreak. Frost events on April 20 and then again on April 28 were just a degree or two warmer than would damage the tender shoots. “By the skin of our teeth” the crop survived. May was warm and wet encouraging rapid vine development. June flowering occurred under ideal conditions resulting in very large clusters. Frequent thunderstorms in mid-summer encouraged vine vigor and a large potential crop that would need to be judiciously thinned.
Hail in late July did minor damage to exposed clusters. Fortunately we had significantly reduced leaf pulling severity just for this reason: the leaves would act as umbrellas to shield the clusters from hailstones.
Veraison was late and in some cases uneven. We started to dry out in late August, but then on and off rains in early September delayed the beginning of harvest. Riesling was picked for the last time at Linden on September 22.
WINEMAKING
Riesling was fermented relatively cool (20° C). Aged in stainless steel tanks and bottled in August 2023. It is ready to drink after two or three years of bottle age, but will reward additional aging. 10.5% alcohol. 1,488 bottles produced. Drink through 2030.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2022 Vintage | 2022 Linden Vineyards Riesling