Riesling

This is from Food and Gift purveyor Harry & David and made in Southern Oregon.  This is a very interesting and different take on Riesling.  Light yellow/white/gold in color with a bit of a green tinge to it.  The nose has a fresh cantaloupe quality to it which is very interesting.  On the palate, this has a bit of a tingling acidity.  The cantaloupe /melon quality comes thru.

Donnhoff makes some of the best Rieslings in the world.  This wine is fantastic if still a bit young.  Even those who said they didn't appreciate sweet wine thought it was great.  Light golden in color.  The nose has just the slightest bit of petrol.  Also some lemon candy with powdered sugar.  On the palate, there is some acid but not a ton.  Minerals and lemon candy.  Nice depth.  Long finish.  This goes great with most foods especially those with some kick.  This should last for another decade probably two.  

Apparently, this is one of the highest rated wines from the Finger Lakes region.  it is quite good and fairly priced at $30.Light yellow in color.  The nose has a slight petrol note and nice minerality.  A bit of lemon oil as well.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  Fresh lemon fruit.  Some depth with underlying minerality.  Good finish.  It would work with a wide variety of foods including Thai and spicy foods.  It seems like it is starting to just show some age but should easily last a decade or more.  

These days, I think that M Cellars is making some of the best wines in Ohio.  They are nestled in the northeast corner of Ohio not too far from the Lake Erie shore.  There are actually quite a few wineries in that part of the state.  Most utilize a "tourist" model for selling their wine.  M Cellars is one of the few attempting to make world class wines and more often than not, they achieve that goal.  This bottle was recently purchased at their tasting room.  It was one of my favorites in a tasting of Ohio and New York wines.  Light silvery green in color.  The nose has a lemony quality whi

This is one of the priciest Finger Lakes region Rieslings.  It is a nice wine, but there isn't really any value here.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is lemony with nice fruit.  It is holding onto its youth quite nicely.  On the palate, this has a candied quality that is nice.  While it is dry, there is a feeling of sweetness and perhaps just a hint of it on the palate.  The finish has a bit of a bitter grapefruit note that was noted in a few of the Finger Lakes Rieslings.  Food friendly.  This should be good for ten years or so but its unclear if it will improve or just hold.  

10.5% ABV.  Light green gold in color.  The nose is already showing some light diesel along with a bit of peach.  On the palate, this has a nice oily texture.  It is better on the palate with a lemon candy note.  Slightly bitter on the finish.  This has good acidity and is off dry.  The two seem to balance each other out well.  It will work with a wide variety of foods but certainly Thai would be at the top of the list.    

198 refers to the clone type that was used for this wine.  8.3% Alcohol.  It is very much in the Spatlese style of Riesling and at a tasting, was my favorite wine.  Pale, silvery gold in color.  The nose is nice with petrol and minerals.  It is curious why it shows petrol a such a young age but the wine is otherwise young and fresh.  On the palate, this is sweet and approaches cloying but falls short of that.  A pineapple juice quality to it.  Enough acidity to carry it off.  Long finish.  This would be great with Thai or other spicy Asian cuisines.  It is fairly priced and is likely to dri

Light green gold in color.  The nose has a "sweet" quality to it with wet rocks and pineapple.  That is not meant to say the wine is sweet.  It just seems like it will be when sniffing it.  On the palate, this has a nice minerality.  Some tart pineapple is a good way to describe it.  It has some depth to it.  Very food friendly, it will go with all but the heartiest and maybe even then.  It would be great with spicy Asian foods.  This was selling for $12 which is a great value.  

This is drinking well right now if young.  It was brought to a Japanese restaurant and worked wonderfully with all of the foods.  It is sweet, so if you are not fond of sweet wines, then you may want to pass.  Light yellow gold in color.  Beautiful nose of minerals/wet stones, grapefruit and a bit of pineapple.  Slightly viscous but with good cut to it.  Lots of depth as well as width on the palate.  The grapefruit dominates here but there is a nice underlying minerality.  Good finish.  It is delicious but with the right food is where it really shines.  This will probably continue to evolve

This is 85% Torrontes and 15% Riesling.  Light silvery green gold in color.  The nose is pronounced and very nice.  Grapefruit and Mandarin oranges.  Slightly viscous.  Good acidity.  Oranges and minerals on the palate.  Nice finish if a bit thin.  This wine is delicious on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  It is relatively inexpensive and will be great for summer parties.