2021 Wente Vineyards Riesling Riverbank Central Coast, USA, California, Wine Review

This is pretty Riesling grown and made in a certified sustainable vineyard and winery. Screw capped. Silvery gold in color with some green hues. The nose is nice with seltzer, lemons and minerality. Full bodied with a very nice, slightly oily texture. On the palate, this has a tart acidity that is balanced against a semi-sweet wine. Notes of pineapple and honey dew. Very tasty. Good finish. This will be a very popular wine at summer parties and events. It drinks great on its own but worked well with a wide variety of foods including a roasted veggie and eggplant spread on Pita. Very nice value.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2021

Current Price:

$18.00USD

"Alsatian Style" California Wine - A Chat With Central Coast Winemaker Claiborne Thompson

The California Central Coast is home to many premium wine makers. Though less renowned than their Napa and Sonoma neighbors, Central Coast wine producers are consistently turning out great niche wines and marketing them to a rapidly growing base of Central Coast oenophiles. Based about 150 miles north of Santa Barbara in San Luis Obispo, Claiborne & Churchill is a fine example of a premium Central Coast winery. IntoWine.com recently caught up with Claiborne Thompson (one half the namesake behind "Claiborne & Churchill) to discuss his winery's focused niche of "Alsatian Style" wines , the current Riesling "craze", and his transformation from academia to winemaker.

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2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Riesling Wirz Vineyard, USA, California, Central Coast, Cienega Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$25.00USD

This is an interesting take on Rielsing. Light golden/yellow in color. The nose has an interesting citrus quality with a bit of sea air. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Dry. It is mostly about the minerality/salinity on the palate. Somewhat concentrated. Consumed over three nights, it was at its best on night 2. Not the most expressive Riesling but very enjoyable. It is very food friendly and will work with almost any food. Fired chicken would be a great pairing. Drink now and for at least ten to twelve years.

2016 Bedrock Wine Co. Riesling Wirz Vineyard, USA, California, Cienega Valley, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Light golden in color. The nose is nice with some peach notes. Slight minerality. Clean. Nice texture. A perception of sweetness perhaps, but this drinks dry. Some red apple, some dry peach on the palate. Refreshing. Not very deep. Easy drinking. Worked fine on its own or with food.

2022 Desire Lines Riesling Kabi Massa, USA, California, Carmel Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2022

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$35.00USD

This is "advertised" as the first Kabinett styled Riesling made in California. Technically, that designation has more to do with the alcohol in the grape must and not the finished wine, but what I think they are saying is that they stopped the fermentation at a place that resulted in the finished wine being sweet but just perceptibly sweet. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is more about fruit with lemon and orange citrus, some apples, and a hint of pineapple. Light bodied. Good balance. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with orange peel and granny smith apples. G

2018 Bedrock Wine Co. Riesling Wirz Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Cienega Vineyard, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$30.00USD

There is not a lot of great Riesling bottles from California, but this one is consistently pretty good and perhaps a bit better in this vintage. Light gold/green in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with apples and some minerality. Light to medium bodied. On the palate, this is dry with moderately crisp acidity. Green apple notes carry thru to the palate. Nice finish. This should drink well over the next seven to ten years. This can be consumed with or without food. Shellfish would be a nice choice.

2021 Wente Vineyards Riesling Riverbank Central Coast, USA, California, Wine Review

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