Philly Wine Finder

Chinese Riesling, Spicy Noodles, and Gewurz

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 Selection^TM
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:

In Wine & Spirits stores

PAWineTalk

Roasted Beets and Riesling

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

• Code: 30635
• Description: Johannishof Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spatlese Rheingau 2006
• Size: 750 ML
• Price: $17.99

 

 

Steeger St. Jost Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken Weingut Ratzenberger 2009

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

CellarTracker

 

Long Island Wine Country Macari 2009 Riesling

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

CellarTracker

 

Riesling and ... Linguini and Clams?

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 Selection^TM
PLCB Code: 32083
Size: 750ML
Price: $11.99

Region:    Germany > Nahe
Grape Variety:     Riesling
Alcohol Content:    10.5%

 PAWineTalk

Weingut Johannishof Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese 2006

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%

 

 

Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Riesling and Trader Joe's Frozen Latkes

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

CellarTracker

"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

Who Serves Red Wine At The Right Temperature -- Barbuzzo? Osteria? Tria? Stella?

In our experience, only Tria.

The first time we had a too warm glass of red wine it was in Pizzeria Stella. We loved their signature truffle and egg pizza but were disappointed with the red wine that we ordered with it. We noticed that the pizza ovens were open to the dining room, and the wine was stored on shelves not very far from the ovens.

It happened again a few months later in Osteria, and the other night when it happened in Barbuzzo too, we got worried this was a trend.  Barbuzzo, like Stella, has an open kitchen and wine stored on shelves nearby.

Trendy restaurants take note: the rule that red wine should be served at "room" temperature does not hold if your room is 80 degrees and has a big pizza oven in the middle of it. Please see Philly Wine Rule #8 and get yourselves some wine fridges. And put the REDS in there too!

Thank goodness for Tria, which had rows and rows of wine coolers behind their bar. Both the Riesling and the Sangiovese we had were served somewhere between 55 and 65 degrees, perfect for bringing out their lovely aromas and flavors. Thank you Tria, for doing it right.

What has been your experience with the temperature of red wine at restaurants? Do they serve it too warm?

RIESLING SPÄTLESE "HÜTTE," VON HÖVEL, ’03 (Mosel, Germany)   

Mature rarity made from late-picked, single vineyard grapes: honey, peach, apple and stone—firne!   $9½ gls

 

SANGIOVESE BLEND, CASTELLO DI MELETO, ’07 (Tuscany, Italy)

Supple "Super Tuscan" with bright cherry fruit, soft tannins and leather on the finish   $8 gls

 

 

 

 

 

La Belle Epoque Tuesday Tasting - Riesling

Every Tuesday, the cozy  La Belle Epoque Wine Bistro in Media features a flight of Chairman's Selection wines, complete with business cards for each wine and full tasting notes. This is a great way to  sample some current CS wines, compare them to each other, and talk about your impressions of them with other wine lovers. No sooner had friendly wine steward Tom Deschere set us up with a flight of Riesling than did we find ourselves in a pleasant conversation with our neighbor at the bar (she liked the Spatlese and also recommended the Soupe du Jour.)  

Of the three Rieslings in this flight we preferred the stony minerality of #2, the Prinz Von Hessen Kabinett.  Riesling #1, Helfrich Grand Cru, certainly had a lot going on, but the petrol notes seemed to put the wine out of balance for us.  We would like to taste this one again in a few years. We had #3 before, Dr Fischer Ockfener, and didn't care for it. We liked it better this time though, and this is another one that may improve with some time. Rieslings like this sell elsewhere at over $20; these are all good buys, and all still available in the PA stores. 

We did sample the Soupe du Jour as well, a delicious fish stew that warmed our bones on a cold winter night. We're looking forward to going back to sample more of the menu.

Tastings of currently available Chairman's Selection wines is a a great idea and we are glad La Belle Epoque is sponsoring them.  For information about past and upcoming tastings follow them on Facebook.

Helfrich Riesling Steinklotz Alsace Grand Cru 2006
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 13584
Size: 750ML
Price: $12.99
PAWineTalk

Prinz Von Hessen Riesling H Kabinett 2007
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 13616
Size: 750ML
Price: $12.99
PAWineTalk

Dr. Fischer Riesling Spatlese Ockfener Bockstein 2009
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
Learn more about this wine at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PLCB Code: 30930
Size: 750ML
Price: $14.99
PAWineTalk

 Disclosure: This flight of wines was provided to Philly Wine Finder free of charge.

 

 

Studert-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett

Good example of a Mosel style Riesling: fruity nose, slightly sweet but also crisp and tart.  Only 7.5% alcohol, this is a great wine to have around for spicy food, like peanut noodles with tofu. 

Still, we're wondering if something like Gazela Vinho Verde could serve the same function, at about half the price.  Now on sale for $6.49.

Available at Franklin Mills.

Studert Prum Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett 2008
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 18200
Size: 750ML
Price: $13.99

PAWineTalk

CellarTracker

WineSearcher  

Wine Spectator 88 pts