($30): First, a little geography for those, like myself, who are unfamiliar with Idaho viticulture.  Koenig Vineyards, founded in 1995 by Greg Koenig and his family, is located just west of Boise in central Idaho near the Oregon border.  Their website informs us that they are in the Sunny Slope District of the Snake River Valley.  Now that that’s out of the way, the wine: With a stated alcohol of 12.8 percent and a residual sugar of 15.9 percent, it comes across as between the style of a Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.  Impeccably balanced, there’s sufficient — no, plenty — of acidity and botrytis-affected apricot skin-like bitterness to balance its honeyed texture.  Invigorating, not cloying, and long, it would be a fabulous choice as dessert or with cheese.  Avoid serving it with a sweet dessert because it will fight and diminish this spectacular wine.  Its only drawback is a practically impossible to penetrate wax seal over the cork.  I almost gave up, but am glad I persisted because the wine is worth the effort.  Sold in 375 ml bottle.
95 Michael Apstein Aug 1, 2017