94POINTS
17½/20
Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAn iconic BC label, Tantalus ‘Old Vines’ is one of many Tantalus wines to feature the artistic endeavours of celebrated Tahltan, Tlingit artist, Dempsey Bob, who agreed to share photographs of his original carvings acknowledging the decades-old fine relationship between art and wine. Old Vines is the pinnacle wine of place at Tantalus, shepherded by winemaker and GM David Paterson. The vines were planted on a single 2-acre plot known as Block 5 over marginal, deep silty soils protected from the warm, late day sun by a stand of Ponderosa Pine. As warm as 2015 was it would appear the vines shut down during the warmest weeks, thus saving the wine from developing massive amounts of sugar accumulation at the expense of its normally intense acidity. After two years in the cellar it’s ready for showtime. Stony, mineral citrus, lemon verbena notes preview an intensely flavoured version of riesling with an equally savoury undercurrent. Wild herbs mix effortlessly with floral scents, lime pith, nectarines, grapefruit and pineapple in a barely off-dry format. A unique bottle of wine, this storyteller may not be for every palate, unless of course you love wine in all its glory. Real wine.Tasted: 28 June 2018Tasted by: Prices:BC | $30.35 | 750ml | winery direct, private wine shops |
Grape: RieslingCSPC: 179226UPC: 626990067429