New Release

The 2009 vintage has not yet been submitted for review. Please follow the links to the right to read reviews of previous vintages.

The 2009 Poet's Leap Riesling is a blend of three distinct growing regions representing the best of the Columbia Valley’s old and new Riesling plantings. Old vines, planted by Sagemoor Farms (20%) as early as 1972, add a hint of honey, dried apricot and white peach to the wine. Yakima Valley’s cooler vineyards (33%) contribute acidity, citrus and delicate fruit flavors. Long Shadows’ Sonnet Vineyard at The Benches (47%), planted with German clones in 2004 at the direction of Armin Diel, underscores this wine’s true varietal character and provides a pleasant minerality.

 
Armin Diel is one of Germany’s most acclaimed Riesling producers.  His family has owned the celebrated estate of Schlossgut Diel, in Burg Layen, in the Nahe River Valley since 1802.  Involved in the estate from the early years of his childhood, Armin assumed management of the winery, a 12th century medieval castle and it’s prestigious vineyards, the best known being Goldloch (pebbles), and Pittermännchen (slate), in 1987. Ten years later, Armin acquired Burgberg (quartz), another outstanding vineyard on the eastern side of Goldloch. All three parcels have been classified on an official ground tax map with the highest possible ranking since 1901, giving them status comparable to a Burgundy Grand Cru.
 
Schlossgut Diel is internationally renowned for its white wines, predominately Rieslings, across a wide range of styles. The intense Goldloch wines are similar to the great Rheingau-Rieslings; the Pittermännchen Rieslings are more like the refined Middle Mosels; and the Burgberg is a brilliant source for great dry Rieslings. Schlossgut Diel is also highly regarded for its rare sweet Eisweins and Ausleses. The estate is a member of the prestigious “Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter” (VDP) and Armin is president of the VDP-Nahe section.
 
Armin is also one of Germany’s leading wine writers (though he never comments on his own wines). Until 2009 he was co-editor of the German Gault Millau Wine Guide. He writes mainly about French and German wines for several leading German wine reviews.
 
Armin and his wife Monika live in Burg Layen with their daughter Caroline who became partner in the winery in 2006. She had completed her studies in enology in Geisenheim – Germany’s UC Davis equivalent. Son Victor is based in Hamburg and responsible for the estate’s export sales.