Finely woven through all of the 2021 vintage wines is a saline quality, an unmistakable nod to the sea. Tucked behind this stentorian shadow of salinity are the flowers of the vintage, delicate yet perceptible in the glass. Perhaps this was most noticeable in the difference between the two clones of Riesling harvested at Breakneck, each vinified and aged separately, and each showing remarkably distinctive personalities. On the one hand, we had a clone that showed classic Breakneck features–salt, gravel, vibrancy–and on the other, we had a suave new persona filled with wild roses and lilies.

This was such a fascinating discovery that up until the final moments of blending, we had planned to bottle the clones separately. Ultimately, in the late hours of contemplation, we determined that the two personalities of Breakneck complimented each other in a way that made the final wine feel more “complete,” and in all honesty, more interesting to drink (the juxtaposition on your palate makes for an exhilarating game of cat and mouse).

vineyard details

East side Seneca Lake - Valois
Soils: Lansing and Conesus silt loam
Harvest Date: Oct. 15
Spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrel
Residual Sugar: 0.28% (2.8 g/L)
Total Acidity: 6.6 g/L
Alcohol: 12.8% by vol.
Production: 372 cases

2021 Tech Sheet
2020 Tech Sheet
2019 Tech Sheet
2021 Vintage Offering