This wine is part of the Hillebrand ‘Showcase’ collection. These are wines that are small lot, small batch, single vineyard, single barrel, or for some other reason, a specially designated wine. This one comes from a small vineyard near a deserted creek; deserted meaning that water no longer takes a path along the creek bed, hence the water has deserted it. But that doesn’t sound all that appealing in these environmentally sensitive times … but ‘Ghost Creek’, now that has a spooky yet almost mythical ring to it. Last year, I really liked this wine, this year I like it even more, it’s an absolute beauty. There is so much going on in the glass that I could give you a list of descriptors that’ll apply to both the smell and taste: tropical fruit, lanolin, pineapple, peach, mango, lychee, with vibrant acidity and great minerality. Add all that to the 8.8% alcohol and a 3 (that tastes like a one) on the sugar code, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a beverage. This wine is subtle in the way it introduces itself before it becomes brazen: “Hello summer heat I’m Hillebrand’s Ghost Creek Riesling – I think you’ve met your match.” Only 300 cases were made so hurry, this won’t last long. Price: $25.00 – Rating: *****