2016 Encore Riesling
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Tasting notes
100% botrytis, selected berries. TA 9.6 g/l, RS 186 g/l. Mid-deep gold. Quince paste, ginger and curry spice, with some dried lime peels. Laser-like acidity cuts through the fully sweet, unctuous palate. Preserved limes, curry spice and some stone fruit, with a clean, long, botrytis-spiced finish. Great balance. (TJ)
Critic scores
Average Score
Tim Jackson MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Encore Noble Riesling has a gorgeous bouquet of pure honey, fig, Golden Delicious apple and orange pith aromas. The taut, focused palate is very well balanced, with a fine line of acidity. The fresh orange zest, marmalade and quince finish lingers in the mouth for 45 seconds. Excellent.
In vintages with ample botrytis, an Encore Riesling is produced. I'd put the 2016 Encore Riesling up against many German beerenauslesen. It's wonderfully sweet and rich (210 grams per liter residual sugar), with pristine apricot and marmalade notes balanced by bright acids. If you want to quibble, it might be too clean and precise, but the balance is superb and the finish lasts into next week. Wow!