2018 Mari Vineyards Stuckfass Dry Riesling Old Mission Peninsula

Flavor Notes
Citrus and resin; soft acid balanced by autolytic flavors and mid-palate weight from time spent in oak. 

Philosophy
The Stückfass Riesling is inspired by the delicate, lower alcohol Kabinett Rieslings of Germany. While lighter on its feet, this wine shows complex maturity through strategic lees and oak contact. Mari’s Doppelstück barrels were purchased in 2016 with Riesling in mind, and have been treated in such a way to reduce added flavor while providing a perfect ovular shape for extended lees aging. This lees contact helps to soften the wine and give it mid-palate texture. Winemaker Sean O’Keefe created the Stückfass Riesling as an exploration into different dry Riesling styles, focusing on building texture through oak, lees, and tempered acidity. 

Vinification
Harvested on October 10th, 2018 from Jamieson Vineyard. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed to minimize skin extraction. The harvest yielded a lower brix level, so the aim was to create a delicate, Kabinett style Riesling. The wine started fermentation in a stainless steel tank, and was transferred to two Doppelstücks to finish. Beginning in the temperature controlled stainless tank allowed for more command over certain aspects of the fermentation. After fermenting dry by December 13th, the wine remained in the Doppelstücks on its gross lees until March 11th, 2019 when it was racked and transferred to a stainless tank. At this point, a small portion of the wine was removed for blending with a white blend-Totus Porcus, and the rest remained on its fine lees until July 2021 when it was bottled.