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Notes from a tasting of Rieslings from several different countries - Saturday, July 23, 2005, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Nineteen wines were poured for a tasting fee of $19. Overall impressions: 'Summertime, and the Riesling's are easy.' ...actually, I'd hoped they were a little complex as well. This tasting was a slight departure from the normal delve into the usual German and Austrian wines, and that was a welcome treat. It had been awhile since I'd had the opportunity to sample a wide variety of whites, much less Riesling - so I was looking forward to sampling a few country's worth. The Zind Humbrecht Clos Windbuhl and Prager wines were my favorites, but the Nigl and Domaine Weinbach were right up there too. At $30, the Nigl is a wonderful bargain, but don't miss the Melness from New Zealand -- it's terrific as well. |
2004
Robert Weil Riesling Halbtroken Kabinett - Germany. $21.99.
Nearly
clear in color. Nose of citron, crushed pineapple, and a hint of
raisin. Slightly sweet mouthfeel, very juicy on the palate, with
good balance and a moderately long finish. This is a nice Kabinett,
if a little light on oomph, and a little heavy on $$. 2004
Grosset Riesling Polish Hill - Australia. $26.99. Very
light lemon color. Nose of minerals, citron, dried pasta, and a
hint of petrol in the background. Very crisp mouthfeel, juicy acids,
and long finish. Very nice - with the only downside being a slight
thinning of fruit on the back end. 2002
Melness Riesling - New Zealand. $21.99. Very
light gold color. Lots of fruit in the nose, with a touch of baked
apple, dried pasta, and a hint of grilled toast. Slightly sweet
mouthfeel initially, the juicy acids kick in about mid palate giving
more of a sweet-sour flavor, very good balance and smooth long finish. 2002
Hiedler Riesling Gaisberg - Austria. $28.99. Light
lemon color. Lots of floral aromas in the nose, with a hint of sweet
and bitter citrus. Crisp and juicy on the palate, with very good
balance, and nice lightly crisp long finish that shows just a hint
of petrol. The nose here is very engaging, but the mouthfeel/flavors
didn't come across quite as much. 2003
Nigl Riesling Senftenberger Piri - Austria. $29.99. Very
light lemon color. Big blousey nose, with moderate floral aromas
of gardenia and rose, and a nice spiced fruit scent. Big, nearly
chewy mouthfeel, beautiful balance, complex flavors of baked cobbler
and lightly crisp apple, and a very long smooth finish. 2003
Prager Riesling Wachstum Bodenstein Smaragd - Austria.
$43.99.
Light lemon color. Fascinating floral touches intermingle with cake
spice and warm pie. Very juicy fruit and acids, with excellent balance
and a very long mouthwatering finish. 2003
Dom. Zind Humbrecht Riesling Turkheim - Alsace. $26.99.
Light gold color. Somewhat restrained nose of light floral and diesel
notes. Very spicy on the palate, with crisp fruity flavors, very
nice balance, and a finish that quits just shy of expected - yet
the aftertaste hangs in there nicely. 2002
Schoffit Riesling Sommerberg Grand Cru - Alsace. $34.99.
Very light lemon color. Citrusy nose of pink grapefruit, lemon and
lime, with a touch of orange zest. Juicy mouthfeel, lots of sweetened
grapefruit , very good balance, and a very long finish. The grapefruit
flavors contribute to a strikingly similar aftertaste on the palate.
2003
Dom. Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Clos de Capucins
- Alsace. $45.99.
Very light lemon color. Slightly restrained nose crisp apple, citrus,
candel wax, minerals and dried pasta. Fascinating smokey flavor
- almost smoked ham-like, with a touch of mineral and dried pasta,
excellent balance, and very long smooth finish. 2002
Dom. Zind Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl - Alsace.
$57.99.
Light Lemon color. Nose of sweet fruit, diesel aromas, minerals,
and toasted muffin. Slightly sweet-sour mouthfeel, very juicy with
a touch of grapefruit, beautiful balance, and very long finish and
aftertaste. 2004
Winzer von Erbach Riesling Erbacher Honigberg - Germany.
$7.99. Very
light lemon color. Slightly restrained nose, with light touches
of lemon and lime. Slightly sweet mouthfeel, not particularily complex,
but juicy flavors and acids, and a slightly soft finish. |
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2004
Gainey Riesling - Santa Ynez Valley, CA. $7.99. Nearly
clear in color. Light smoked ham quality, with just a touch of raisin
to the otherwise fruity nose. Lightly crisp, yet still slightly
sweet in mouthfeel, very soft fruit, very god acid balance, and
surprisingly long acid-driven finish. 2004
Leitz Riesling "Dragonstone" - Germany. $13.99.
Clear
in color. Almost neutral in nose, with a slight rose water and perfume
scent. Somewhat sweet-sour flavors, quite juicy acids, excellent
balance, very long delicious finish, and long flavorful aftertaste.
Here's a cas of the nose promising little, and the palate delivering
everything. 2004
Mönchhof Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese
- Germany. $18.99. Nearly
clear in color. Sweet spicy citrusy aromas, with hints of diesel
in the nose. Juicy, lightly sweet mouthfeel, excellent balance,
and avery nice long smooth citrus-filled finish. 2004
Mönchhof Ürziger "Mosel Slate" Riesling
Spätlese - Germany. $14.99. Nearly
clear in color. Nose of dried pasta, floral notes, and the barest
hint of petrol. A very nice mineral flavor comes through on the
palate, elegant balance and mouthfeel, very nice finish. Aptly named. 2004
Gunderloch "Diva" Riesling Spätlese - Germany.
$14.99. Nearly
clear in color. Clean and seltzer-like nose, with a light lemon
scent, but also an annoying soapy quality in the background. Much
better in mouthfeel, with a nice crisp clean light lemon flavor,
nice balance and finish. Seemed a little less ripe than the previous
Spats. 2004
Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Auslese -
Germany. $29.99. Very
light lemon color. Light citrusy notes mingle with those of dried
pasta, grilled bread, diesel, and a touch of leaf. Sweetened grapefruit
flavor on the palate, lovely balance, and very, very long finish
and aftertaste. 2003
Schloss Schönborn Riesling Beerenauslese - Germany.
$19.99. Very
light lemon color. Light notes of raisin, toast and minerals in
the nose. Slightly sweet mouthfeel, with lots of sweet citrus, baked
apple, dried pasta and minerals. Very nice balance, and long smooth
finish. 2002
Inniskillin Riesling Icewine Niagara Peninsula - Canada.
$59.99. Light
lemon color. Fascinating nose of floral aromas, hops and barley,
toasted cheese bread, and faint minerality. Sweet and juicy mouthfeel,
slightly soft flavors, very nice balance, smooth and seductive through
the very long finish. |
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No original material may be reproduced without written consent Mail & Comments - Eric Anderson |