Let's face it, if you like "dry" Riesling, you really don't like Riesling. If so, this wine is for you. White fruit, good acidity.
Fess Parker Dry Riesling Rodney's Vineyard 2010
Chairman's SelectionTM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32582
Size: 750ML
Price: $13.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com:
Availability in Pennsylvania:
Riesling and pork. Talk amongst yourselves.
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Hauserer 2007
Chairman's SelectionTM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32065
Size: 750ML
Price: Was 29.99 Now 19.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com: (Avg $53, Min $53, Max $53)
Availability in Pennsylvania:
Region: France > Alsace > Wintzenheim
Grape Variety: Riesling
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
High ratings in Wine Spectator (94!), Cellartracker, and PAWineTalk, a Garagiste selection, and prices ranging from $40 to $50 elsewhere, somehow the PLCB has this on sale for $19.99.
It lived up to the hype and didn't disappoint. We agree with others, this is a bright wine, lots of acidity, some citrus--grapefruit or starfruit, clean and crisp. Acidity and minerality are the stars.
Not much in the Philly area, but there are 80 bottles in Newtown.
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Hauserer 2007
Chairman's SelectionTM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32065
Size: 750ML
Price: Was 29.99 Now 19.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com: (Avg $46, Min $40, Max $52)
Availability in Pennsylvania:
Region: France > Alsace > Wintzenheim
Grape Variety: Riesling
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
The Asian style noodles that accompany our salmon and bok choy are fried in a sesame-chili paste, making them quite hot and spicy. The general wine pairing suggestion for spicy food is to stay away from red, high alcohol, tannic wines and go instead with low alcohol off-dry whites, usually riesling and gewurztraminer.
So we picked up a Dragon's Hollow Riesling, which claims to be the first premium wine produced in China. The bottle has netting on it and a Chinese coin, which made us suspicious, because we are generally suspicious of such things on wine bottles. The wine is ok, but it didn't taste much like a German riesling, and it didn't pair with the spicy noodles as well as we hoped. Dragon's Hollow riesling has some green apple (sour) flavor but in general tastes like a generic white table wine.
The Ventana Gewurztraminer, on the other hand, is full of lychee fruit flavor and is a good example of California Gewurz. It's a good pairing for this type of food. According to their chalkboard, the PA Wine and Spirits store at 19th and Chestnut is having a tasting of this wine tonight from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Dragon's Hollow Riesling He Lan Mountain 2008
Luxury Item
PLCB Code: 18571
Size: 750 ML
Price: $10.49
Ventana Gewurztraminer Arroyo Seco 2009
Chairman's SelectionTM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32288
Size: 750ML
Price: $9.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com: (Avg $13, Min $9, Max $19)
Availability in Pennsylvania:
Roasted beets and riesling are a great pairing on the principle that sweet food pairs with sweet wine. It's true; this wine and dish really complemented each other well.
The Johannishof Spatlese had a deep golden color and was very ripe and rich, more so than the last time we had it. Seemed even sweeter this time around.
The recipe is for Beets, Spiced Quinoa and Yogurt and is from the New York Times.
Weingut Johannishof (H.H. Eser) Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese
Delicious riesling from Moore Brothers, from a special offering over the summer. Fruity Asian pear vanilla flavors; fresh, vibrant, well-balanced. Has the power to win over life-long hard-core riesling haters, especially when paired with roast pork, potatoes and red cabbage. Parker 92 pts.
Steeger St. Jost Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken Weingut Ratzenberger 2009
$18
Long Island Wine Country is about 3 hours from Philly and includes more than 30 vineyards and wineries. When we visit we always enjoy the wine along with the seafood and fresh produce from local farms.
Located in Mattituck on the North Fork, Macari Vineyards prides themselves on sustainable farming including organic and biodynamic techniques. We enjoy many of their wines, especially Dos Aguas, the Collina wines, and Sette. Their Riesling is made in Mattituck from grapes from the Finger Lakes. It is crisp and refreshing, in the Kabinett style.
Not available in PA, but we recommend you make a visit.
Macari 2009 Riesling
Producer web site
"An array of citrus and tropical fruits fill out the bouquet on our first Riesling ever produced. Grapes were sourced from Finger Lakes wine region. Lychee fruit and a hint of peach on the palate paired with a fresh acidity make this wine very drinkable and refreshing."
$18.00
Another non-traditional pairing, but this is a solid Spätlese from Paul Anheuser, modestly priced at $11.99. Everything is in balance, sweet but not cloying, zippy acidity but in line. Good change of pace from Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.
Perfect description by a user on PAWineTalk: "Delightful summer drinker. I get apples and pears with a light to medium body. Sweet, but no overly so. Refreshing but not extra crisp - acid in balance with fruit. Somewhat of an oily mouth feel. 10.5% ABV. Rated 89 on CT."
Paul Anheuser Riesling Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Spatlese 2009
Chairman's SelectionTM
PLCB Code: 32083
Size: 750ML
Price: $11.99
Region: Germany > Nahe
Grape Variety: Riesling
Alcohol Content: 10.5%
This appeared in as an online special at $17.99 from Fine Wine and Good Spirits. We jumped on it immediately and it quickly sold out. It was rated 93 in Wine Spectator and is still selling at prices up to $28 elsewhere. Reviews are more mixed on CellarTracker.
Pear, apples, and kerosene/trumpet oil on the nose, honeyed texture and sweet but not cloying. Yummy. Reminded us of the August Kesseler we had back in September.
Weingut Johannishof Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese
Vintage 2006
Type White - Off-dry
Producer Weingut Johannishof (H.H. Eser)
Variety Riesling
Designation Spätlese
Vineyard Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland
Country Germany
Region Rheingau
Alcohol 9%
This simple, understated (classic?) Mosel Riesling was ok but nothing spectacular: off-dry, clean tasting, with maybe a hint of honeysuckle.
The surprise hit of the meal was the Trader Joe's Frozen Latkes. Sitting between the roasted brussels sprouts and the chicken with white wine and mushrooms on our plates, the latkes really pulled the meal together, just like that rug in the Big Lebowski. The overall effect was very central European, so the Riesling paired well, even if it wasn't a standout.
2008 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Riesling Estate
$11.88
"There are times when you wish to leave the pomp and circumstance in the rear view mirror and instead enjoy a simple bottle of wine for the moment’s sake (not the score or other)." Jon Rimmerman
