2019 Robert's Block Riesling

Like bobbing for apples in a cold Niagara stream, this crisp dry Riesling is bright, refreshing, and full of energy.

If you're in the mood for a fresh white wine with crisp apple and citrus character, this is an easy choice for both casual sipping and dinner pairing. Robert's Block shows Niagara Riesling at its most lively and refreshing.

Wine Style

Dry Riesling, 11.5% Alc.

Quick Impressions

Lemon zest  ·  Fresh lime  ·  Honeycrisp apple  ·  Wet stone

Awards

Silver Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
Silver Medal, International Wine Challenge 2022
Silver Medal, Texsom International Wine Awards 2022

Perfect With

Tasting Notes

Definitive Riesling expressing definitive notes of flint and wet stone accompanied by lemon, lime peel and honeysuckle notes that start on the nose and transcend onto the palate. A long clean finish persists. Drink now to enjoy the vibrant acidity and fresh citrus notes, or hold for a few years for the almond, straw and wild honey notes to develop.

Key Stats

• Harvest Date: October 10, 2019
• Blend: 100% Riesling
• Alcohol: 11.5%
• Residual Sugar: 14.0 g/L
• Titratable Acidity: 8.8 g/L
• pH: 3.0
• Cases Produced: 240 cases

Why Robert's Block? Notes from Sue-Ann

Robert's Block Riesling is a single vineyard wine originating from the oldest block of Riesling currently planted on the estate. My father planted the block for me in 1994 to commemorate my graduation from the University of Guelph. I named this wine Robert's Block for my ancestor, Robert Staff, who settled on this farm sometime around 1800, and I only make this wine in particularly good Riesling years. ~ Sue-Ann

Winemaker's Notes

The wine is only vinified in premium Riesling growing/vintage years of 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. There will not be a 2020, 2021 nor 2022 vintage of this wine. Grapes are crushed and pressed in an extended pressing program for gentle juice extraction. After cool settling, the slow cool fermentation proceeded over 2 weeks with premium yeast specifically selected for this block. The young wine is aged on its fine lees for 6 months before filtering and bottling at ~14 g/L RS.

What the Experts Say

Lovely kerosene and yellow peach aromas abound leading to a mouth-watering palate of nectarine juice. 94 pts, International Wine Challenge

This connoisseur's wine ticks all the boxes — balanced, clean, concentrated, complex and long. This medium-sweet, aromatic expression starts with the fragrance of salted lime sorbet then floods in with lit, citric zeal. A rush of silky, statured goodness that calls to mind lime sorbet, juicy Granny Smith, a touch of orange pith and cool stony underpinnings that linger flavour wise and texturally for ages. 93 pts, Carolynn Evans Hammond, Torstar

From Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula wine region, Sue-Ann Staff's Robert's Block 2019 Riesling is fragrant with ripe peach, nectarine, and fresh apple; off dry, medium-bodied and mouth-watering with ripe apple, stone fruit, lemon grass, petrol and flinty mineral flavours long and silky on the palate. A perfect pairing to butter chicken and mild curries. 93 pts, Natalie MacLean

Flinty nose with hints of lime leaf leads on to a palate of apricot, lemon and a lifted acidity. 90 pts, Decanter World Wine Awards