The Good Wine Guru » Riesling

Thanksgiving 2011 Wine Selection

George — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:00:59 +0000

There are a lot of different wine sites out there giving suggestions on what you should be pouring during your Thanksgiving festivities. Since, however, it’s been fairly well established what varietals go well with the traditional Thanksgiving feast, I thought I would change it up and let you know what I’m pouring at dinner, or rather, what I’m taking up to my parents house to pour for the army-sized feast my mother will be cooking.

2009 Coastal Vines Pinot Noir – Sonoma, CA – $10

I picked up a pair of these at my local Richmond wine shop since it would have been irresponsible of me to not show up with some Pinot Noir. While there are plenty of wine sites that will be recommending $30 and $40 bottles, I don’t see the reason to break the bank when there are perfectly serviceable bottles under $20. I’ve never had this one before, so it will be interesting to try it out on Thursday.

2010 Ponga Pinot Noir – New Zealand – $14

I’ve had other Ponga varietals before (namely Sauvignon Blanc), so I’m holding out high hopes for this being a good value wine that over-performs for the price.

2010 Alamos Torrontes – Argentina – $13 (SRP) *

Much like the Ponga, I’ve had other wines from Alamos, so I’ll be interested to try this one. For those unfamiliar with Torrontes, the best approximation I can give, and the comparison I usually use, is Viognier. Given that I live in Virginia, and that I’m not bringing any Viognier myself (sorry VA Wine Marketing Board), it seems appropriate to bring something similar.

2009 Steininger Gruner Veltliner – Austria – $25

A few months back I received a case of summer white wines to try out, and of those my favorite was a Gruner Veltliner. I found it to be light, minerally, and refreshing. Since Gewurztraminer is a popular choice for Thanksgiving, I wanted to mix it up and try something a bit different though similar. As I’ve only had one Gruner (that I remember), I’ll be interested to see if this one is as enjoyable to me as the other one.

Freixenet Cordon Rosado – Spain – $12 (SRP) *

Rose’ in general has been finding its way more and more into my wine selection, as have sparkling wines. It’s only natural that they should combine. A blend of Trepat and Garnacha grapes, this wine will probably be a good selection before and during the dinner. I may use this bottle as a way to entice my parent’s neighbors that pretty much only drink bubbles to come over for a drink at some point in the evening.

2011 Christmas at Biltmore – California – $12 (SRP) *

This one will most likely get brought out for dessert, as one of the suggested pairings is pumpkin pie. A blend of Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chenin Blanc, and Riesling, this wine has 4% residual sugar, so it’s definitely going to need something to either cut or compliment the sweetness.

2008 Foris Gewurztraminer – Oregon – $15

Since I was grabbing some Pinot Noir to bring, I of course had to bring some Gewurztraminer as well. I’m always a bit gun-shy around this particular grape, so I had my guy at my local wine shop show me to his driest Gewurztraminer. Hoping that this will go well with the feast my mom puts out.

Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut – Spain – $18 (SRP) *

A blend of Pinot Noir and Trepat (85%/15%), it will probably be a coin flip to see if this or the other sparkling rose’ makes it to the dinner table and which one gets opened up early for cocktails before dinner. I’m leaning towards dinner with this one though.

2009 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir – Oregon – $21

My wife and I actually bought half a case of this wine thanks to enjoying a glass of it so much at our local Flemings while there for happy hour. Since it’s rude to not share, I grabbed a bottle of this to throw into the selection that we’re taking up to Norther Virginia with us.

Hopefully you’ll all enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner and I hope you all have a safe Thanksgiving and have safe travels. If you feel like sharing what you’re pouring I’d certainly be interested to hear it.

Wines marked with a (*) were received as samples.

Big House White 2010

George — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:42 +0000

Varietal: 22.7% Malvasia Bianca; 15.9% Gruner Veltliner; 15.7% Sauvignon Blanc; 9.2% Gewurztraminer; 7.9% Riesling; 7.3% Chenin Blanc; 6.1% Muscat Canelli; 5.2% Viognier; 4.5% Verdelho; 4.4% Albarino; 1.1% Pinot Gris
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Big House wines are a rebellious mix of non-traditional grape varieties destined to give the imbiber a new experience. To wit this year’s prisoner is a captivating blend of aromatic whites that span the distance of the Alps themselves. With a nose that carries the vibrancy of spring and white flowers and lychee fruit that surround the senses. The palate opens up to tropical fruits, dried apricot, and white peaches. This wine finishes strong with a cleansing citrus zest that lingers. Pairs with fresh fish, Asian cuisine, or even Sunday morning fruit salads.

My Review: I’m a big proponent of tables wines, and I feel as though that’s a niche that Big House wines has embraced and possibly even tried to make their own. Looking at the list of wines that are put into the bottle it’s almost disappointing to not see one labeled “kitchen sink”. There are times when a wine can try and do too much and end up falling flat, and while I’m not going to go so far as to proclaim the 2010 Big House White an amazing wine, for a $10 table wine, you can do a lot worse.

On the nose I didn’t get much, though some of the white flower aroma did come through. In the mouth there were competing flavors of citrus and honeysuckle and dried apricot that gave this just overarching tropical fruit flavor that was light and somewhat refreshing. Paired with a dinner of chicken and cheesy potatoes the wine was a nice counterpoint to the bit of heat that was in the seasoning on the chicken and to the thickness of the potatoes.

I’d be lying if I said this was a life-altering wine, but as $10 white table wines go, it’s average at worst. If you’re looking for a light white wine with tropical notes and a hint of some of the sweeter varietals you’d be remiss to at least not consider the 2010 Big House White.

Saying Goodbye to Summer

George — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:00:02 +0000

Well, the end of summer isn’t that far away, so when I was recently sent a mixed case of summer white wines, it seemed a shame to sit on them and try to go through them each individually as I would have quickly run out of summer by the time I was able to get to them all. With that in mind I invited some friends over, opened up all the wines, and tasted them all at once, because let’s be honest, that’s what summer’s really all about. Here’s what I thought.

The first one I tasted was the 2010 La Fiera Pinot Grigio (SRP $8). I got mostly apples on both the nose and the palate with a nice lingering finish with just the right amount of acid. There was a slight hint of sweetness to my palate, but for being the first one I tried, it was a good start and it’s a good value for these kinds of parties.

Next up were two from Tiamo. First was the Tiamo Prosecco (SRP $15) which had a hint of citrus on the nose with medium sized bubbles and a slight bit of yeast on the palate and a mix of crisp fruit. This was definitely not a super-dry Prosecco and it was quickly consumed by my friends.

The other was the 2010 Tiamo Pinot Grigio (SRP $12) which I found to have some citrus on the nose and apple and lime in the mouth. It was nice and crisp with just a hint of effervescence to me, a trait I find I enjoy this time of year.

From Argentina I had some Santa Julia wines, starting with the 2010 Santa Julia Pinot Grigio (SRP $10), which had notes of tropical fruit and banana, which I think added a hint of sweetness on the finish of the wine.

Next was the 2010 Santa Julia Innovacion Torrontes Pinot Grigio (SRP $11). This was actually a 1L bottle and is a Whole Foods Exclusive “Summer Top 10 Wine” and was certainly one I was interested to try given my growing enjoyment of Torrontes. I got notes of orange peel on the nose and floral notes in the mouth with a slight almost petrol note. For the price this is a good value and an interesting combination (90% Torrontes/10% Pinot Grigio) that I think I’d like to see more of.

Finally from Santa Julia was the 2011 Santa Julia Organica Chardonnay (SRP $11), which is made from 100% organically grown Chardonnay grapes. On the nose I got green apple and pineapple, with the pineapple carrying through to the palate. There was a nice finish to it that was at once both crisp and long tasting. This is a stainless steel wine for those that have an aversion to oaked Chardonnay (you know who you are).

The first of three Rieslings that I had was the 2009 Dr. H. Thanisch Riesling Classic (SRP $18) which had a nice minerality with peaches, grapefruit, and a nice crisp, dry finish. There was a subtle sweetness to this one, which at least to my palate was the driest of the three and one I’d be interested to pair with some spicy Thai food.

Next was the 2009 Heinz Eifel “Shine” Riesling (SRP $10) which was slightly sweeter than the previous Riesling and had flavors of green apple. I could still probably drink this one with the right meal, but again I’d want some kind of spicy Asian cuisine to go with it and cut through the sweetness.

The final Riesling was the 2010 Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Noble House Riesling (SRP $12). With an aroma of apple and honeysuckle, petrol, and some minerality in the mouth it was also the sweetest of the Rieslings and featured a lemon/sour note that wasn’t off-putting, but neither was it great.

Up next was the 2010 Biohof Pratsch Gruner Veltliner (SRP $14). This was probably my favorite wine of the night and is a great value considering the bottle was 1L. Made from organic grapes, there was apple on the nose and a fresh, tangy dry minerality in the mouth with just a touch of white pepper. I kept going back to this one all night and was sad to see it gone.

The 2010 Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $12) was one I had actually seen in stores a few times but never picked up. Might have to now. Aromas of gooseberry an herbal note were nice, but on the palate I was really intrigued with this wine that was nice a dry with flavors of stone fruit and what was debated as being either nettles, tomato vines, or just “green”. Either way, I really liked this one.

The final wine of the night was the 2010 Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $16). Like the Fire Road, it was from New Zealand, and like the previous bottle it featured similar aromas with some grapefruit coming into the mix and some of the nettle/tomato vine/green. A touch of a mineral note on the palate was welcome as well.

All in all this was a great selection of wines. The Rieslings weren’t terrible, even though when I first received the wines I’ll admit I cringed at the sight of three German Rieslings – my memories of growing up in Germany tasting sickly sweet German Rieslings are hard to get over.

I really enjoyed the Gruner Veltliner, this being my first real experience with it, and the two New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs had intriguing aromas and flavors that make me want to see if this is something about that particular vintage in the region or just something those winemakers were doing.

There’s not a single one of these wines that I would tell somebody to avoid like the plague, but if I had to pick one to buy it would be the Gruner Veltliner with the two Sauvignon Blancs closely following.

FlipFlop Riesling 2009

George — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:00:51 +0000

Varietal: 100% Riesling
Region: Washington – USA
Cost: $7 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: A medium-bodied, complex Riesling with peach, apricot, and melon which leads to a satisfying, smooth finish. Tropical notes and sweet aromas in a wine that pairs well with tofu stir-fry, shredded pork tacos, and sake sashimi.

My Review: Wow, I have taken my time getting to the 2009 FlipFlop Riesling. It’s not even that I didn’t want to give it a try, as I did enjoy the other two wines I tried from FlipFlop, but that I wanted to make sure I had a meal that would be a good pairing for the Riesling. Finally, yesterday I got around to doing just that.

After stopping at Mekong (a great place in Richmond, VA for Vietnamese food – if you live in Richmond and haven’t been there you’re missing out) to pick up some dinner, my wife and I dug in and opened up the wine. In the glass the wine was very light, nearly clear, with a subtle aroma of generic tropical fruit – nothing I wasn’t really expecting. What I wasn’t expecting was the taste.

My first sip of the wine was after taking a bite of my dinner, and I have to admit that I did a double-take at the bottle to make sure I was in fact drinking Riesling. I say this because the combination of a dinner with just a hint of spice and the Riesling helped to hide the sweetness of the wine. There was a second where I really thought I was drinking a Pinot Grigio. I loved it.

Once I was done with dinner and still sipping at the wine, I started getting a very subtle sweet note on the finish, but even that was refreshing and was a good counter to the bit of acid on the front end. If I was looking for a table wine to serve on a hot day on the deck, this would certainly be on my list of wines to consider.

As always, I recommend picking up a bottle of FlipFlop wines if for no other reason than the charitable donations that they make with each purchase, so if you’re looking for a bottle of wine and a good cause, they’re a good place to spend your dollar.

Rudolf Muller Riesling 2009

George — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:00:15 +0000

Varietal: 100% Riesling
Region: Germany – Landwein Rhein
Cost: $24 (SRP of Octavin Home Wine Bar)

Winemaker’s Notes: Light in the glass with aromas of peaches and pear that follow through to the palate and finish with a nice crispness. A perfect match for firm cheeses, pastas with cream sauce, lighter seafood dishes, and Asian cuisine.

My Review: I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m not a huge Riesling drinker.Now, before I get comments and emails from devout Riesling lovers, let me qualify that. I grew up in Germany, and my first experiences with wine were mostly German. Now, I know that not all German Rieslings are incredibly sweet, but some of them are, and those are what I was first exposed to, and now my palate tends more towards robust reds than sweet whites, so I don’t drink a lot of the grape – it is what it is. Because of that, I was a bit…apprehensive when offered a sample of the 2009 Rudolf Muller Riesling in an Octavin Home Wine Bar, because not only was this a grape that I don’t typically drink, it was a high volume of it.

A lot of times when doing these reviews I’ll try and fix something along the lines of what the winemaker recommends pairing the wine with, though I’ll be the first to admit that just as often I don’t. With this wine, having so much of it and in a container that made it easy to pour some out for tastings and for dining, I decided to try a couple of different things with it to give my opinions on it.

The first dish that I paired with the Rudolf Muller was some sausage ravioli in a cream sauce. The crispness and light sweetness of the wine were a nice counter to the richness of both the pasta and the sauce, and were a nice change of pace from the usual Sauvignon Blanc or steel Chardonnay that I would have usually paired the dish with.

The second dish I paired with the wine was some Yukon Gold potatoes in curry over some jasmine rice. Again, the crispness and light sweetness of the wine helped counter the heat of the curry and the overall starchiness of the dish, and again provided a nice alternative to the usual light wines I probably would have turned to had I not had the Rudolf Muller.

By itself the wine is still fairly enjoyable, and one I wouldn’t be opposed to having around when summer really gets into swing. While there’s an undeniable sweetness to the wine, it comes across as candied fruit as much as anything, the aromas and flavors of pear and peach are nice and crisp, and the finish is clean without a lingering sweetness in the mouth that I’ve experience with some sweeter wines.

This is by no means a dessert wine and should not be treated as such. While it’s sometimes nice to pair sweet with sweet, this wine serves much better as a counter note to savory and is one that I would definitely say give a try to if you’re a Riesling fan, and even if you’re not. It’s good to see Octavin Home Wine Bars adding another varietal to their selection, and they continue to impress me with their commitment to quality boxed wine. Fortunately I still have quite a bit of this wine and look forward to trying it with other dishes in the near future.

Woelfelin Riesling 2008

George — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:00:40 +0000

Varietal: Riesling
Region: France – Alsace
Cost: $13.50

Light in the glass with aromas of citrus. Crisp and dry in the mouth with mineral and effervescence on the finish. Pairs well with sushi, sashimi, smoked salmon, BBQ chicken.

Recommendations: When a lot of people see Riesling, they instantly think of sweet. While this is certainly a correct assumption of the Riesling is from Germany, the bottle of 2008 Woelfelin that I opened last night was not. Dry is the quickest way to describe the wine, though certainly not the only. Some citrus on the nose and palate, though with the effervescence, minerality, and a touch of acid it was hard to pick out exact citrus fruits beyond just a general sensation.

Paired with a dinner of dry rubbed BBQ chicken and some risotto, the acid was actually nice, and was in fact balanced by the creaminess of the risotto and the slight heat of the chicken. All said it was a good pairing. Even after the food was gone the wine wasn’t bad, though I definitely think it is better when paired with food than without as the acid can be a bit overwhelming all by itself with nothing to even it out.

If you’ve only ever had sweet German Riesling, than I definitely recommend giving this bottle a try if for not other reason than to see that there’s a big difference between the regions that make Riesling. I do recommend pairing it with something, though pretty much anything light should be enough to help out with the acid.

Finger Lakes Riesling

George — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:00:38 +0000

As I’ve done in the past, this past Wednesday I did an interactive tasting on Twitter of some Finger Lakes Riesling courtesy of Jon Witherspoon (@vcuspoon) at his shop, The Wine Cellar. Along with my wife, we sampled 6 Rieslings from the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The first one we sampled was the 2008 Fox Run Riesling. A high acid wine with petrol on the nose (a theme throughout the night), the best descriptors for this wine were “green sour patch kids” and “alcoholic sour skittles”. With lemon on tropical fruit on the palate and only 1% residual sugar, it wasn’t the typical sweet Riesling that most people think of when considering Riesling.

Next was the 2008 Ravines Riesling. The wine with the least residual sugar (.3%) was one of my favorites for the evening, with flavors of green apple, lemon, and lime with a bit of mineral and effervescence when held in the mouth. This wine would be a great substitute for champagne of a morning with breakfast.

Our third wine of the evening was the 2009 Lamoreaux Landing Red Oak. The nose on this one let you know it was a Riesling, but it was light in the glass with floral, peach notes that reminded me of nothing so much as a Viognier. A great deck wine, it was probably my favorite of the evening.

Fourth was the 2009 Lamoreaux Landing Yellow Dog. Candied peach on the nose was somewhat similar to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and while it had similar floral notes to the Red Oak, they weren’t as prominent.

The 2007 Heron Hill Riesling was our next wine and it had a heavy petrol nose. With flavors of lime, mineral, and lemon rind, I got a finish that I could only describe as rubber. There were a few BP comments about this wine in regards to the heavy petrol nose.

Finally we had the 2009 Swedish Hill Riesling. With the highest residual sugar of the night (2.9%), it was also the “darkest” wine of the evening. Flavors of honey and floral notes with a low acid flavor this would be a great deck wine and would pair great with turkey, ham, or fish – the perfect Thanksgiving dinner wine.

This is the third time I’ve done one of these tastings of Finger Lakes wines, and I’m always impressed by them. They are definitely making my wife and I want to take a trip up there to further explore many of these vineyards that we’re getting to sample in these tastings and I definitely recommend that if you’re in the Finger Lakes area that you take advantage of the great vineyards that you have up there.

Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review

George — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:00:09 +0000

Well, the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Expo has come and gone. I found some new vineyards and visited some old favorites. Here’s the long and short of my experience.

Athena Vineyards (http://www.athenavineyards.com)
Athena Vineyards is worth going to just to check out their unique bottle designs. Owned by former nurses, Athena Vineyards offers a great deck wine in their Lighthouse White and a nice Meritage with a good pepper finish.

Potomac Point Winery (http://www.potomacpointwinery.com)
I’ll be the first to admit that I went to Potomac Point just to pick up a few bottles of their La Belle Vie 2008 for when the weather turns warm. This year they’ve introduced a La Belle Vie Rose that was enjoyable, but not as good as the original.

White Hall Vineyards (http://www.whitehallvineyards.com)
I’ve been to White Hall Vineyards before, and if you’re ever our in the Charlottesville area, I certainly recommend visiting them. While there weren’t any of their wines that I disliked, I came away with 3 bottles of their Cabernet Franc and 3 bottles of their Viognier.

Rosemont Vineyards (http://www.rosemontofvirginia.com)
Rosemont was the first vineyard I visited to give me some truly unique flavors. Their Vidal Blanc offered up a herb, mint finish that was new and refreshing. Their Meritage has a clove finish that I will admit reminded me a bit of high school.

Pollak Vineyards (http://www.pollakvineyards.com)
Lime in their Durant White reminded me of South American Sauvignon Blanc. Their Cabernet Franc had a more subtle pepper finish than many I had during the day, while their Cabernet Sauvignon offered a touch of eucalyptus.

Mountfair Vineyards (http://www.mountfair.com)
Most notable from Mountfair was their slightly effervescent Stickdog Riesling with a slight mineral finish. Fairly refreshing and one worth considering as the weather turns warm.

Blenheim Vineyards (http://www.blenheimvineyards.com)
I really enjoyed Blenheim, and while I didn’t dislike any of their wines, I enjoyed their Viognier and Cabernet Franc the most, bringing home two bottles of the Viognier and one of the Cab Franc. I already wish I had grabbed 3 bottles of each.

Tarara Winery (http://www.tarara.com)
I was really looking forward to Tarara, and was sadly sort of disappointed. I went there looking forward to their Long Bomb, and while I really enjoyed their Charval with a slight mineral finish and found their 2008 Cabernet Franc to be great, but their Long Bomb Edition 2 was a bit of a let down.

Lake Anna Winery (http://www.lawinery.com)
I’m a huge fan of Lake Anna, and while I went there to try and pick up their Spotsylvania Claret (3 bottles), I can’t help but recommend their Totally White and Totally Red as quality table wines. The Bellhaven Chardonnay is very refreshing and definitely worth considering as well.

Villa Appalaccia Winery (http://www.villaappalacia.com)
While I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I favor red wine for most occasions, I was blown away by the whites offered by Villa Appalaccia. Not to take away from a great Toscanello (a great blend of Cab Franc, Sangiovese, and Primitivo), their Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio Reserve, and Simpatico are worth buying. The Pinot Grigio is a great deck wine, and there’s not much seasfood that I wouldn’t pair the Reserve with.

First Colony Winery (http://www.firstcolonywinery.com)
The two most worth it to me were the Viognier with its light floral flavor and their Cabernet Franc with its combination bell pepper white pepper finish.

Grayhaven Winery (http://www.grayhavenwinery.com)
While certainly not the last winery that I visited, it was another one that I went to with a certain wine in mind. Just up the road from my home, this is a vineyard that I’ve visited several times for their great, homey tasting room. Their Cabernet Franc is always one to love, with a light color and great pepper finish. They have a Sauvignon Blanc that I have yet to taste, but as it’s always sold out I’m assuming it’s pretty good.

Vino Curioso (http://www.vinocurioso.com)
Three years ago I found Vino Curioso at the first Virginia Wine Expo. All these years later and I’m still in love with their Cabernet Franc (Franc the Tank) and their Cabernet Sauvignon (Snake’s Den). Another one that I’ve never tasted the Sauvignon Blanc of because they are perpetually sold out of it.

Jefferson Vineyards (http://www.jeffersonvineyards.com)
Like many of the vineyards at the Virginia Wine Expo, I hit up Jefferson Vineyards looking for a specific wine – their Petit Verdot – which they didn’t have. Granted, their Cabernet Franc was as good this year as it was last, but them not having their Petit Verdot available was a bit of a let down.

The 2010 Virginia Wine Expo was another roaring success, with great vineyards presenting great wine. If you’re in the Central Virginia area, or even if you’re not, and you’re not already planning to attend next year, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to not only learn about varietals that you might not get from California, but certainly ones that taste different than those you are used to.

Whole Foods Market Offering Summer Wine Deals

George — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:53:32 +0000

With summer upon us, Whole Foods Market is rolling out a selection of wines for summer that are priced to make their way into your home for parties, cookouts, or just for a night with a special someone. Starting at just $9, these whites and reds should be a welcome addition to any home.

Whites

Presto Prosecco - Brighten up your summer brunch with the fruity effervescence of this popular Italian Sparkler. Crisp, clean and refreshing with flavors of tropical fruit, it’s content on its own, in mimosas or as a cheerful contrast to hollandaise-topped egg dishes, stone- and tree-fruit salads, light fish or the rich and buttery Fromager D’Affinois.

Rudolf Müller “Bunny” Riesling - Floral, fruity and flirtatious with crisp peach, pear and light acidity, this drier-style Riesling is a splendid apéritif and the perfect match with lighter seafood and salads, Asian spiced cuisine or firmer cheeses such as Hirtenkase Aged.

Biokult Grüner Veltliner - Austria’s “Gru-Vee” White is a groovy delight with a light zesty flavor and hints of cracked pepper and prairie grass. Clean acidity and a soft seductive finish make this an enchanting apéritif or versatile sidekick for spicy dishes, grilled seafood, burgers, pizza or Whole Foods Market® organic fresh goat cheese. Made with Organically Grown Grapes.

Vinum Chenin Blanc / Viognier - A marvelous medley of pear, melon and grapefruit, just one glass is like a bouquet of blooming summer citrus. A supple texture and snappy finish make this absolutely yummy with brunch, shellfish, sun-dried tomatoes, or thin-crust pizzettas made with fresh Cana de Cabra or Whole Foods Market® organic fresh goat cheese.

V-solo Verdejo - With its zesty acidity and fruity disposition this vivacious Spanish sipper is a welcome guest to any occasion. Floral aromas and hints of gooseberry, lime and citrus will dazzle the palate. Plays well alone or with others—especially seafood, shellfish or nutty, slightly sharp Robusto cheese.

Manifesto! Sauvignon Blanc - The ideal sip for a sunny picnic, this frisky White coats your palate with ripe lemon, gooseberry, grapefruit and orange peel. A smooth texture and food-friendly acidity makes it a harmonious companion for grilled foods, seafood or oysters.

Bonterra Rosé - This melodious blend of Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Grenache is full of ripe summer berries. Unexpected richness, a touch of spice and juicy acidity makes this a wonderful accompaniment for al fresco anything! A singular chilled sensation or perfect match for grilled foods, salmon or Spanish Cana de Cabra goat cheese. Made with Organically Grown Grapes.

Reds

Escudo Rojo - Enhance warm weather fare with some Chilean flare! This compelling mélange of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère, exudes rich spice, toast and black cherry aromas and is smooth on the palate. Captivating with grilled meats, barbecue or hamburgers.

Pirovano il Rosso di Enzo - For a long, hot and lusty summer, add a juicy Italian to your menu. This evocative Red is highly attracted to grilled food, pizza, burgers and medium-aged cheeses such as Taleggio and Kilaree Irish Cheddar.

Rutherford Hill Merlot - Dark cherries, luscious chocolate and a silky finish make this “king of Merlots” ideal for summer romance. Balanced with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and tobacco, this seductive Red is alluring one-on-one or with hearty meats such as grilled steak, burgers or mature Seaside Cheddar.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet - An outstanding value, this commemorative release is the life of any patio party, backyard bash or beachfront fête! Succulent ripe blueberry, dark cherry and black currant coupled with chocolate and olive flavors presents a beguiling complexity and sleek finish. Superb with beef, lamb and chicken or rich GranQueso cheese.

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti - This classic Red giant unfolds into a lush bouquet of ripe red fruits. Made in the Tuscan tradition, it is a dry, well-balanced and full-bodied Sangiovese that adores hot and hearty summer cuisine including grilled beef, barbecue or pizza.

In addition to this selection of wines, Whole Foods market has selected several cheeses that are perfect for pairing with these wines while sitting on a porch, deck, patio, or dinner table.

Aged Hirtenkase - This versatile and full-flavored hard cheese is made from the milk of cows that graze on rich Alpine grasses. Aged for one year, it fuses the best of Swiss and Parmesan style cheeses. Grate a hunk into risotto or over salads and soup and surrender your taste buds.

Fromager D’Affinois - Hello creamy goodness! From the French Rhône-Alpes, this soft-ripened cousin to Brie is luscious, buttery and just waiting to be taken advantage of. Savor solo or with ripe berries and other summer fruits.

GranQueso - From farm-fresh cow’s milk, this Wisconsin original is lovingly cured for six to nine months and hand-rubbed with delectable spices. Deep and complex with a balanced sweet finish, it’s the star of any cheeseboard, and coveted companion to salads, soups, pastas and sandwiches.

Robusto - A Dutch cheese with an Italian spirit, Robusto is softer, yet reminiscent of, aged, nutty Parmesan. Friendly and versatile, cube it into salads, melt it on pasta or roasted vegetables, or just savor a slice on its own.

Seaside Cheddar - This rugged mature cheddar’s unusual sweet taste and crunchy texture comes from cows that graze on southern England’s coastal grasses. Crystallized calcium gives it a crunch. Tantalizing by itself or on burgers, grilled chicken pasta or a rambunctious grilled cheese and grilled beef sandwich.

Visit your local Whole Foods Market to check out their summer wine and cheese selection. It’s a great way to enjoy wine the entire summer.

Clos du Bois Riesling

George — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:05:34 +0000

Clos du Bois California Riesling

Varietal: Riesling

Region: California – USA

Cost: $12.99 – $13.99

A semi-sweet white wine from California (with a French name that means “Enclosure in the Woods”) with citrus flavors and a bright, clean aroma. Clos du Bois has less residual sugar and sweetness than a German Riesling. Will pair fairly well with spicy food.

Recommendation: If you’re a fan of sweeter Rieslings, this wine will probably suit your tastes if you want something that is sweet, but not sickly sweet. That being said, this Riesling is leans closer to the sweet side of the Riesling varietal. If you’re more interested in a Riesling that is dryer, this probably isn’t the one for you. Pair this with something spicy if you buy it, but you might want to avoid it if you don’t want something with too much sweet flavor.

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