Clear, medium gorgeous yellow-gold in the glass. Medium intensity nose of sweet lemon, minerality, and a bit of petrol. Off dry, high acidity and medium body. Dominated by strong and appealing minerals, along with ripe tropical fruits and a hint of the typical apricot. Good length. 12.5% alcohol. Overall good, and recommended for those who like a classic off-dry Riesling.
$28.75 at Crosstown. See Trinity Hill.
In this glass this is dark ruby leaning towards purple, with a garnet rim. Clean, medium intensity nose of cherry and wood with a medicinal quality. Dry, medium acidity and low tannins with a medium body. Full of intense ripe fruits: cherries, red and black, along with blackberries. This is backed up by wood and spice, and again a slight medicinal or mint quality. Good length. 14.5% alcohol but this is not overwhelming. Overall very good; I really enjoy this one and recommend it. $36 at Crosstown. See Torbreck Wines, and the winemaker’s notes for this vintage (PDF).
Clear, medium-plus ruby red, with a slight purple rim. Medium intensity nose of black fruit, oak, and peppercorns. Dry, medium acidity and tannins, and a medium body. Straightforward oak and dark berry flavours, and a hint of dark chocolate; not a lot of length. Overall good. 14% alcohol. This was a gift from my father; it was about $20 at Kits Wine Cellar. See Hardys Wines.
Clear, light gold in the glass. Medium intensity apricot, apple-pear, and citrus nose. Just off-dry, strong acidity, and light-plus body. Citrus—particularly lemon—and mineral dominate the palate; evolving and nicely balanced green fruit flavours work towards a lingering finish of crisp green apple. 12.9% alcohol. Overall very good, one of the best west coast Rieslings I’ve ever tasted; I’ll be picking up a couple more bottles of this. See Long Shadows Wineries.
This was a birthday gift from my wonderful interaction design team at Vision Critical. Drinking with Tempeh “Steaks” with Mushroom-White Wine Sauce (no, I’m not using the Poet’s Leap in the recipe!) from Big Vegan.
Clear, medium ruby with a bit of purple on the rim. Clean, almost-medium intensity nose of berry, cherry, and oak. Dry, with medium acidity, tannins, and body. Austere, woody black and red fruits in the mouth; medium length. Medium-plus length with some slightly evolving black cherry flavours. 14% alcohol—ouch. Overall good, if a bit severe; if this is your thing then by all means. It’s going to be a bit heavy for the summer-ish vegan fare I’m eating with it, whereas fruitier Aussie Shirazes tend to play well with my diet. Still, I can see myself going back to this in another season or with a seitan and mushroom dish.
$25 at Crosstown. See De Martino and the winemaker’s notes (PDF).
