My favourite grape.
Clear, medium and handsome yellow-gold in the glass. Clean and lovely medium-intensity nose of lemon and agave, floral and a whiff of petrol. Off-dry, high acidity and medium body. Wonderfully balanced sweetness, mineral-citrus, and again floral qualities. Great length with a finish of lemon and nectar—complex, evolving; this is a very nice Riesling, perhaps the best Alsatian I’ve had. Overall very good, and recommended. 13.5% alcohol. $78 at Kitsilano Wine Cellar. See Domaine Zind-Humbrecht.
Clear, very very pale gold in the glass. Clean, medium-plus intensity citrus, particularly grapefruit, and a hint of pear. Just off-dry, high acidity and light body. More green fruit on the palate with crisp apple and pear, along with lemon and minerals. Hints of residual sugar come through in subtle stone fruit through a medium-length finish. 12.3% alcohol. Overall good; recommended, particularly at the price: $21.50 (at Crosstown). See also my notes on the 2010, and the winemaker’s notes.
In the glass this is clear, pale gold with a hint of green. Nose is clean, medium-plus intensity mix of floral, grapefruit, pear, and a distinctive Okanagan grassy-sage aroma (I grew up in south central BC). Dry with a hint of residual sugar—one can discern Joie’s Riesling grapes fighting through—but dominated by citrus—lemon, grapefruit, and lime—with distinctive spicy/floral Gewürztraminer notes as well. Obviously a real mix (see post tags) but it balances nicely; the complexity that comes through in the long-ish finish is captivating. Definitely more tart than the 2010; another good vintage. 12.7% alcohol. Recommended. $28.50 at Crosstown. See Joie Farm (warning: Flash site).
Clear, light-to-medium gold in the glass. Nose is clean, medium intensity stone fruit, slate-mineral, and apple-spice. Off-dry to medium sweet; high acidity; medium body. Very nicely balanced minerality, agave nectar, and ripe fruits. Good length. 10% alcohol. Very enjoyable; I recommend this one.
$42 at Liberty Wine Merchants. See Weingüter der Vereinigten Hospitien Trier.
Drinking this with Whole-Grain Mustard and Cornmeal Crusted Seitan, along with the excellent chipotle chile-based barbecue sauce, both from Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry.
Clear, pale-to-medium lemon-gold in the glass. Clean, medium-plus intensity citrus, slight floral, and apricot aromas. Dry, high acidity, again with lemon and stone fruit, along with a bit of fresh green apple and floral notes. Medium length and 13% alcohol. Overall very good; recommended—this is a very appealing nicely balanced Aussie Riesling. $30 at Crosstown. See Skillogalee Wines.
Drinking this with Whole-Grain Mustard and Cornmeal Crusted Seitan, one of my favourites from Vegan Soul Kitchen.
Clear, pale gold in the glass. Clean, medium intensity apple, stone fruit, and mineral aromas. Off-dry verging on medium sweet; high acidity and medium bodied, with a nicely balanced apricot, citrus, and an appealing minerality. Medium length with a nice lemony-sweet finish. 20% alcohol. Straightforward but enjoyable; overall good, and one of the better Mosel-style Rieslings I’ve had from British Columbia; recommended. $20 at Swirl Wine Store. See Ruby Blues Winery.
Clear, pale-plus lemon-gold in the glass. Clean, medium intensity floral-perfume aroma with a background of apple and mineral. Dry, high acidity, and light-plus body. The palate doesn’t reflect the nose, and is dominated by sharp minerality and lemon. Medium finish with lingering acidity. 12% alcohol. Straightforward and an enjoyable enough Alsatian Riesling, but a bit one-dimensional for the price—$42 at Crosstown.
Clear, medium lemon-gold appearance. Clean, medium intensity citrus, spices, a hint of honey, and a bit of earthiness on the nose. Dry with a bit of residual sugar, medium body, and dominated by an intense acidity, the palate is almost all lemon and grapefruit; there is a bit of a yeasty or earthy/dusty quality as well. Good length. 12% alcohol. Overall very good; recommended if you’re in the mood for an austere Alsatian Riesling. $28 at Marquis Wine Cellars. See Barmès Buecher.
Clear, pale gold in the glass. Clean, appealing medium-plus intensity citrus, stone fruit, and mineral-slate aromas. Sweet, high acidity, and medium body: honey and apricot, green fruit, and citrus—well balanced with good length. Overall good; recommended. This was a gift from my father, and I haven’t looked up the price. See Weingut Schloss Lieser (warning: Flash on site).
Clear, pale gold appearance. Clean, medium intensity citrus-honey with an obvious wet grassy aroma. Just off-dry, with medium-plus acidity and medium body. Lime, mineral, and quite fruity; a little muted, though. Medium length. Overall good; I’m not sure though that the balance is right here: it seems a bit dull. $28.09 at Kitsilano Wine Cellar. See Alkoomi Wines.
See also my notes on the 2005.
