Riesling

Cole Ranch AVA is the smallest AVA in the United States.  It is west of Ukiah in Mendocino County.  The vineyard was planted in 1973.  It is a very interesting take on Riesling and certainly one of the better ones tasted from California (yes, that is a bit of a back handed compliment).  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peach, some ginger and plenty of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is dry.  Minerality dominates but also some ginger and slight peach.  Good finish.  It is nice on its own, but really, better with good.  It was perfect with

Another of my favorite German producers and this is possibly my favorite of all of his wines.  This was better than a bottle I had a couple of years ago.  Light golden in color, with slight silvery hues, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lots of minerality/"wet rocks" along with a touch of pineapple and some salinity.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet.  It is also deep and delicious.  As it ages it will develop a complexity but lost some of the vibrancy.  The answer of course is to drink some young and some old.  Flavors of pineapple and minerals.  Lon

Certainly one of the top wineries in Germany (or anywhere) and still "reasonably" affordable.  Light golden in color.  The nose is clean with no noticeable sulfur or petrol.  Aromas of peaches and "wet stones".  Medium bodied.  Great acidity.  Lively.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Peaches with minerality.  Long finish.  This is perfect with Roasted beets and goat cheese.  Also, nice on its own.  It is evolving nicely but still will drink well for another twenty years or more.  

First time trying this producer.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big-ish with pineapple, tropical fruit, slight petrol and "wet rocks".  Medium bodied with a slightly viscous texture.  Good acidity.  This is dry but the alcohol is not high.  A bit more blowsy than expected but that is not bad.  On the palate, pineapple, guava and minerality.  Good finish.  Tasty.  This is drinking well but has at least another decade.  It worked well with Szechuan food.   

What a treat!  Iced tea in color with some orange hues, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with apricots, oranges, slight tea leaves and a nice earthiness about it.  Full bodied.  Thick and viscous texture. Enough acidity but not strong.  On the palate, apricots, caramel, oranges and spice.  Long finish. This is unique and delicious.  While a plain cookie would work, it may better to go with no food for this.  It can't hurt, but wouldn't help.  This seems like at age 26, it could do another twenty anyway.  Big fun!

This is made in Oregon from artificially frozen Riesling grapes.  It has 23.5% Residual Sugar.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apricots, slight pineapple and simple syrup.  Medium bodied but viscous.  Surprisingly good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of apricots and peaches.  Long finish.  This is very tasty.  A little goes a long way but it drinks well on its own.  It would be good with a barely sweet cookie.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  

Nice to revisit this (it had been almost seven years).  This was a  great value back in the day ($20).  It really hasn't ddeveloped as much as hoped, but still a very good wine.  Light gold/green in color. The nose has green apples, and minerals. On the palate, this is dry. Some depth. The palate is more peach with some minerality.  Shorter finish.  No hurry but won't get better.  A nice wine with lighter foods or maybe some Szechuan.  

Light gold in color. The nose has wet rocks and some peaches. Nice texture.  Great balance and acidity. On the palate, this is just slightly sweet. Good minerality.  Some peaches and slight pineapple notes. Long finish. Drinking about at peak but will still go for another five years.  A great choice with Thai food.  

Golden with green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits, and some peach.  Also, minerality.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is dry.  Great acidity.  Crisp.  Lemons, slight peach and minerals.  Deep with a nice complexity.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but drinking nicely.  This is great on its own and will work well with a wide variety of foods.  It would be great with Thai food.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  

JJ Prum's always offer up some of the best Rielsing values anywhere and this one is included.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Peaches, "wet rocks", and just a hint of sulfur.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Enough acidity.  On the palate, peaches, very slight pineapple and minerality.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is showing plenty of depth and some complexity as it opens.  Consumed over tow nights, it was better on night two.  Great on its own, but worked very well with some good, soft cheeses.  Drink over the next twenty years.