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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Tantalus Old Vines Rieslingtext
92POINTS
17/20

Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2014

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of the iconic BC labels, ‘Old Vines’ is made from the first lot of riesling plantings (1978) from a single 2-acre plot. Block 5 is on a slope of deep, silty soils, bordered on the western edge by a stand of Ponderosa Pine that act as a sunblock from warm Okanagan summer sun. Only 8.1 g/l of residual sugar are deftly handled to balance out the 9.8 g/l of total acidity. The fruit is farmed sustainably, cropped low and cellared for two years before release. This savoury riesling certainly is a stunner and among the best yet from Tantalus. Broken stones, wild herbs, earthy grasses and eraser notes undercut a lifted tone of lime leaf and lime pith, green apple, verbena and tight pear. The acidity is nervy and electric, vibrating along the medium, sun-dappled palate, until the brisk, grippy finish. Minerality rings throughout, from first whiff to lingering, lime pith finish. You can enjoy this now with herb roasted chicken but its future is bright and many years down the road.Tasted: 04 July 2017Tasted by: Treve Ring & Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$30.35750mlwinery direct, private wine shops
Producer: Tantalus VineyardsDistributors: The Wine Syndicate
Grape: RieslingCSPC: 450262UPC: 626990067429