Tasting Today is a series of WSET-style tasting notes, based on their Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT). While the SAT can be used to deduce a variety or region during a blind tasting, it is especially useful for determining the style and quality of a wine. I wrote hundreds of SAT tasting notes and assessments while I worked my way through the WSET Level 3 Award in Wine and then the Diploma. It is no secret that I am a big fan of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and their approach to wine education; click here for more information on their programs. I am always available to answer any questions about the different levels and my experiences as well!
On to the tasting...
Appearance: This wine is medium lemon.
Nose: Intensity on the nose is medium+. Aromas include citrus (Meyer lemon), stone fruit (white peach, nectarine, apricot), orchard fruit (golden apple, pear), white blossom, beeswax/honey, wet stone, petrol. Fruit is ripe, with some tertiary notes of dried fruit (apricot).
Palate: This wine is off dry with medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (label abv is 11.4%), with a medium body and medium+ finish (bordering on long). Flavor intensity is medium+, and flavors include citrus (Meyer lemon), stone fruit (white peach, nectarine, apricot), orchard fruit (golden apple, pear), white blossom, beeswax/honey, wet stone, petrol. Fruit is ripe, with some tertiary notes of dried fruit (apricot). The wine has a waxy or oily texture.
Quality: This wine is very good. The off-dry residual sugar is expertly balanced by medium+ acidity and ripe fruit characteristics. There is a broad range of aromas and flavors, from ripe fruit (peach, apple, lemon) to wet stone and floral (white blossom); in addition, the wine displays the beginning of tertiary development (dried fruit, petrol), further adding to its overall complexity. Both aromas and flavors have medium+ intensity, and the flavors are deeply concentrated. The finish is medium+; a long finish would push this wine into outstanding territory. As it is, the fine balance, complexity, and intensity prevent the wine from being anything less than very good.
Suitability for Bottle Aging: Yes, this wine is suitable for bottle aging. The off-dry sweetness and medium+ acidity, along with the medium+ intensity and concentration, will hold the wine during bottle aging. The wine is only beginning to show tertiary notes (dried fruit, petrol); these will continue to develop and add additional interest to the wine.
Region of Origin: United States, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge AVA
Grape Variety/Varieties: Riesling
Additional notes: I'm a big fan of trisaetum and have been for a long time, so I am trying to keep this note as unbiased as possible. The beauty of WSET is that it forces you to take a step back and evaluate based on the facts. Trisaetum produces a wide range of Rieslings (my favorite Rieslings, period. Full stop.), from dry to off dry to the occasional late harvest, along with exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For more info, visit them here.
Danielle (on the left) and I visited Willamette Valley in the fall of 2019 and trisaetum was a must stop -- gorgeous scenery and top notch hospitality, never mind excellent wines!
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