Medium gold-green colour. Nose is grassy citrus-grapefruit, a little unusual but pleasant. Dry with low-medium acidity, medium body, apple and a hint of stone fruit but no significant sweetness. Nice but probably not as good as their 2007 Riesling. Still, a good drink. 12.8% alcohol. $23.85 at Crosstown. See Road 13 Winery + Vineyards.
Riesling
My favourite grape.
Kettle Valley 2008 Riesling
Pale-medium gold. Very nice nose with floral, citrus, earth and honey notes. Off-dry medium body with honey and apricot qualities; slightly low but nicely balanced acidity. Definitely one of the better BC Rieslings I’ve tried in the last couple of years. 9.8% alcohol. Unusually comes in a short rather than long-neck bottle. $28.90 at Crosstown. See Kettle Valley Winery.
8th Generation Riesling Classic 2008
The Tangled Vines was basically undrinkable (see my previous post), so I ran out to Crosstown and bought this, which I recall enjoying last year (though I won’t read my notes for now). Pale-ish silver-lemon appearance; quite unusual (for a Riesling) muted grapefruit nose. Dry, low-medium acidity, hint of stone fruit and well-balanced green fruit, lemon, and mineral qualities. Subtle and enjoyable. $24. See 8th Generation Vineyard.
Tangled Vines Riesling 2005
Deep lemon-gold with an earthy, citrus nose; strong alcohol scent, seeming almost fortified. A harsh palate, again with alcohol dominating (though it’s 13.9%); acidity is there but is overpowered by a largely unpleasant flavour. I can’t recommend this one. Perhaps you get what you pay for: $16.20 (relatively inexpensive by B.C. standards, believe it or not) at Crosstown. See Tangled Vines Winery.
Hewitson Eden Valley Riesling 2006
I haven’t tried many Australian Rieslings. This one is clear lemon-green, with a nice apricot-petrol nose. A bit of a disappointment on the palate; initially dull acidity, though it comes out more in the finish, and somewhat muted apple and grapefruit flavours. 12.5% alcohol. I reserve full judgement until I try some more from Oz, but I don’t enjoy this as much as some of our recent British Columbia Rieslings. A bit pricey at $26.50 (Crosstown). See Hewitson.
Dirty Laundry 2008 Riesling
Clear, pale lemon-gold. Medium spicy-nut on the nose. Slightly off-dry with good acidity and body. Pronounced and well-balanced apple, stone fruit, and mineral flavour with good length. 13.7% alcohol. Very nice; recommended. $21.70 at Crosstown. See Dirty Laundry Vineyard.
Fort Berens Estate Winery Riesling 2007
Clear pale golden-silver appearance. Light apricot nose. Slightly off-dry with low-medium acidity, light body. Apple-stone fruit with a hint of nutmeg. 12.5% alcohol. Good length. Overall good, though a bit one-dimensional. Inexpensive (for B.C.) at $18, Taylorwood Wines. See Fort Berens Estate Winery.