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Acclaim

95 Points - Robert M. Parker Jr., Wine Advocate December 2006

Winemaker’s Notes

Three decades ago Richard Arrowood produced America’s first Special Select Late Harvest Riesling. It came at a seminal point in California's vinous development, when vintners were discovering that they could indeed compete with the world's finest on an international stage. Since then Richard has gone on to produce dozens of intensely flavored dessert wines inspired by Germany’s famed Trockenbeerenauslesen.

To produce a Special Select Late Harvest conditions must be perfect. Fortunately, the weather cooperated throughout the 2005 growing season. The winemaker must also be a gambler, willing to wait long enough for the development of Botrytis, or noble mold. Hoot Owl Creek Vineyards in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley has been an important source for Late Harvest Rieslings over the years. Each morning the site is blanketed by thick fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean to the west. The moisture from the fog helps with the development of Botrytis, an essential ingredient in this style of wine.

The golden color is an indication of the wine's extraordinary intensity. The nose is explosive with apricots, butterscotch and marmalade. The palate is thick, unctuous, luscious and honeyed. The supporting acidity keeps the wine lively and balanced. This is pure and absolute nectar!

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