| Riesling Tasting Report |
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If you have been a big fan or even a casual reader of these
“Monthly Tasting Report” pages, you will notice the subtle
differences in this month’s report. You know, after you write
almost two years of these reports, you do get the itch to
change things up a bit. I’ll just assume you’ve never read one
of these monthly tasting reports or are just new to the website
and go ahead and point out the things I am going to do
different this month. 1). Normally I take the average score a
wine receives from all of the tasters (this time there were six of
us) and translate that into a letter grade. This month, I am
going to go ahead and list the average scores all the way down
to two decimal places. What the heck, I’m feeling dangerous
today! 2). After the tasting notes on the nose and the taste of
each wine, I usually explain what food this wine would go with
or any other interesting facts about the winery I can indulge
upon, but this month, I think I will make notice of some of
the comments I heard while we were tasting the wines.
Besides, all of these wines are excellent food wines, to me, that
is what Riesling wines are all about anyway.
Armed with the knowledge that Riesling wines are indeed
great food wines, especially with Asian and spicy foods, we
decided to once again call upon the services of the Spice Thai
restaurant of Plano. This time however, instead of going to
the restaurant, we had it delivered so that we could really
concentrate on the wines. As always, the food was great and
indeed everyone’s dinner went extremely well with the
Rieslings. No complaints in that department from anyone.
We did have six Riesling wines from four different places in
the world including, Germany, Washington State, New
Zealand and Australia. I wished that we had an Alsace,
France Riesling to throw in there, which to me would have
really completed this tasting. I also think the French Riesling
would probably have done very well. Oh well, next time
perhaps. In all of the wine trade magazines that I have been
reading lately, I keep hearing that Australia is the new up and
coming Riesling producer, turning out Riesling wines that can
rival some of the best that Germany (regarded as the best) has
to offer. Recently, an Australian Chardonnay from Leeuwin
scored 98 points in the Wine Spectator, so armed with this
knowledge, I made the decision to buy Leeuwin’s Art Series
Riesling wine. I’m going to be a lock for first place for this
month, right? Hmm, more on that later!
When the dust had settled and the tasting was over, Germany
did not disgrace itself too much, but it was Washington State
that ended up in victory lane. In all fairness, Germany should
get partial credit for Washington State’s “best in show”
because after all, it was a world renowned German Riesling
producer, Dr. Ernest Loosen that helped Chateau Ste.
Michelle produce this lovely bottle of wine. A wine that has
made the Wine Spectator’s top 100 list the past two years.
Once again, this tasting was not without some disagreements
about whether or not we liked this wine or that, but one thing
everyone agreed upon was that the Eroica from Chateau Ste.
Michelle was clearly the star of the show! Here is how they all
played out:
“Monthly Tasting Report” pages, you will notice the subtle
differences in this month’s report. You know, after you write
almost two years of these reports, you do get the itch to
change things up a bit. I’ll just assume you’ve never read one
of these monthly tasting reports or are just new to the website
and go ahead and point out the things I am going to do
different this month. 1). Normally I take the average score a
wine receives from all of the tasters (this time there were six of
us) and translate that into a letter grade. This month, I am
going to go ahead and list the average scores all the way down
to two decimal places. What the heck, I’m feeling dangerous
today! 2). After the tasting notes on the nose and the taste of
each wine, I usually explain what food this wine would go with
or any other interesting facts about the winery I can indulge
upon, but this month, I think I will make notice of some of
the comments I heard while we were tasting the wines.
Besides, all of these wines are excellent food wines, to me, that
is what Riesling wines are all about anyway.
Armed with the knowledge that Riesling wines are indeed
great food wines, especially with Asian and spicy foods, we
decided to once again call upon the services of the Spice Thai
restaurant of Plano. This time however, instead of going to
the restaurant, we had it delivered so that we could really
concentrate on the wines. As always, the food was great and
indeed everyone’s dinner went extremely well with the
Rieslings. No complaints in that department from anyone.
We did have six Riesling wines from four different places in
the world including, Germany, Washington State, New
Zealand and Australia. I wished that we had an Alsace,
France Riesling to throw in there, which to me would have
really completed this tasting. I also think the French Riesling
would probably have done very well. Oh well, next time
perhaps. In all of the wine trade magazines that I have been
reading lately, I keep hearing that Australia is the new up and
coming Riesling producer, turning out Riesling wines that can
rival some of the best that Germany (regarded as the best) has
to offer. Recently, an Australian Chardonnay from Leeuwin
scored 98 points in the Wine Spectator, so armed with this
knowledge, I made the decision to buy Leeuwin’s Art Series
Riesling wine. I’m going to be a lock for first place for this
month, right? Hmm, more on that later!
When the dust had settled and the tasting was over, Germany
did not disgrace itself too much, but it was Washington State
that ended up in victory lane. In all fairness, Germany should
get partial credit for Washington State’s “best in show”
because after all, it was a world renowned German Riesling
producer, Dr. Ernest Loosen that helped Chateau Ste.
Michelle produce this lovely bottle of wine. A wine that has
made the Wine Spectator’s top 100 list the past two years.
Once again, this tasting was not without some disagreements
about whether or not we liked this wine or that, but one thing
everyone agreed upon was that the Eroica from Chateau Ste.
Michelle was clearly the star of the show! Here is how they all
played out:
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| Chateau Ste. Michelle “Eroica” 2004 – Columbia Valley, Washington State |
Nose – An unbelievable explosion of stone
fruits including, but not limited to, tangerines,
apricots and peaches. So fantastic, you couldn’
t wait to dive in.
Taste – After a nose like that you are
expecting something sweet, but this wine
throws you a curveball and stays dry to the
honeyed finish. Extremely well balanced, with
more of those stone fruit flavors that suite the
palate just fine. Four enthusiastic thumbs up!
Not one person had anything negative to say
about this wine and it was the complete
package. It was the only wine we tasted that I
could envision drinking without any food at all
and yet it complemented the Thai food the
best. Wow! If you are new to Riesling or have
always thought of yourself as a Riesling wine
hater, give this a shot and I will bet that you
get hooked!
fruits including, but not limited to, tangerines,
apricots and peaches. So fantastic, you couldn’
t wait to dive in.
Taste – After a nose like that you are
expecting something sweet, but this wine
throws you a curveball and stays dry to the
honeyed finish. Extremely well balanced, with
more of those stone fruit flavors that suite the
palate just fine. Four enthusiastic thumbs up!
Not one person had anything negative to say
about this wine and it was the complete
package. It was the only wine we tasted that I
could envision drinking without any food at all
and yet it complemented the Thai food the
best. Wow! If you are new to Riesling or have
always thought of yourself as a Riesling wine
hater, give this a shot and I will bet that you
get hooked!
| Average Score – 91.00 |
| Price - $20.00 to $24.00 |
| St. Urbans-Hof 2002 – Weingut, Germany |
Nose – Very much the German Riesling
prototype of spicy green apples followed up
with a classic undertone of petrol-like aromas.
Taste – Very refreshing with a great acidic
finish. Almost making the wine appear to be
bone dry. There are very pronounced granny
smith apples and strong pear flavors that close
it out nicely.
This was our first wine of the tasting and it
started it off on just the right note. Very
pleasing, there might have been one person
that wasn’t a big fan, but by in large it was
everyone’s second or third favorite wine of the
evening.
prototype of spicy green apples followed up
with a classic undertone of petrol-like aromas.
Taste – Very refreshing with a great acidic
finish. Almost making the wine appear to be
bone dry. There are very pronounced granny
smith apples and strong pear flavors that close
it out nicely.
This was our first wine of the tasting and it
started it off on just the right note. Very
pleasing, there might have been one person
that wasn’t a big fan, but by in large it was
everyone’s second or third favorite wine of the
evening.
| Price - $12.00 |
| Average Score –87.66 |
| Villa Maria 2003 – Marlborough, New Zealand |
Nose – Lots of stony minerals and very subtle
hints of peach. You have to look for it, but it’s
there.
Taste – A very neutral profile on the palate
with just a kiss of citrus on the finish.
Although the wine does little in the taste
department, it does not intrude on the various
flavors of the Asian food spectrum, making it a
great choice for dinner.
This wine lacked an identity to me. I wouldn’t
sit down and drink it without food. Just like it’
s taste, people seemed to be somewhat neutral
in their opinions of it, giving it middle of the
pack scores. In other words, there were no
haters and no lovers.
hints of peach. You have to look for it, but it’s
there.
Taste – A very neutral profile on the palate
with just a kiss of citrus on the finish.
Although the wine does little in the taste
department, it does not intrude on the various
flavors of the Asian food spectrum, making it a
great choice for dinner.
This wine lacked an identity to me. I wouldn’t
sit down and drink it without food. Just like it’
s taste, people seemed to be somewhat neutral
in their opinions of it, giving it middle of the
pack scores. In other words, there were no
haters and no lovers.
| Price - $12.00 |
| Average Score – 84.33 |
| RRR or Royal Rheingau Riesling 2003 – Rheingau, Germany |
Nose – Somewhat closed, however there are
some interesting honeyed characteristics to it.
Taste – The fruit is somewhat tired with
perhaps a bit of a lemon/lime finish. The wine
is tart on the palate, but not pleasantly so.
There are many bubbles in the wine, almost
like it was going through a secondary
fermentation.
Well, I’m just going to come right out and call
a spade a spade here. How in God’s Green
Earth did this wine not come in dead last??? I
thought it was dreadful and so did a couple of
others. I believe there were two people that
found it quite lovely and their scores saved it
from complete and udder embarrassment!
Three RRR’s…what the heck kind of name is
that anyway? Did they name it after the three
essential education fundamentals? You know,
Reading, Riting and Rithmatic???
some interesting honeyed characteristics to it.
Taste – The fruit is somewhat tired with
perhaps a bit of a lemon/lime finish. The wine
is tart on the palate, but not pleasantly so.
There are many bubbles in the wine, almost
like it was going through a secondary
fermentation.
Well, I’m just going to come right out and call
a spade a spade here. How in God’s Green
Earth did this wine not come in dead last??? I
thought it was dreadful and so did a couple of
others. I believe there were two people that
found it quite lovely and their scores saved it
from complete and udder embarrassment!
Three RRR’s…what the heck kind of name is
that anyway? Did they name it after the three
essential education fundamentals? You know,
Reading, Riting and Rithmatic???
| Average Score – 83.50 |
| Schmitt Sohne Riesling Kabinett 2003 – Piesporter Goldtropfchen, Germany |
Nose – We all agreed in smelled like green
tea. I’m not kidding!
Taste – Despite the overall neutral ness of the
wine on the palate, it had quite a lot of
interesting subtleties underlying in the
background. Hints of lavender and a fruit
profile of mangos and apricots, which was
something that none of the other wines had.
Honestly folks, it was just a couple of haters
that got in the way of this receiving a higher
score. I think the wine was perfectly fine and
it made for an interesting pair with the food. If
nothing else, this wine should receive kudos’
for being interesting and unique. It was a few
peoples second favorite wine and apparently a
few people’s least favorite!
tea. I’m not kidding!
Taste – Despite the overall neutral ness of the
wine on the palate, it had quite a lot of
interesting subtleties underlying in the
background. Hints of lavender and a fruit
profile of mangos and apricots, which was
something that none of the other wines had.
Honestly folks, it was just a couple of haters
that got in the way of this receiving a higher
score. I think the wine was perfectly fine and
it made for an interesting pair with the food. If
nothing else, this wine should receive kudos’
for being interesting and unique. It was a few
peoples second favorite wine and apparently a
few people’s least favorite!
| Price - $11.00 |
| Average Score – 82.00 |
| Leeuwin Art Series 2002 – Margaret River, Australia |
Nose – This wine, which had a richer yellow
color than any of the others, indicating age in
the wine, had, as Miles would put it, a flutter of
dessert wine, honeyed richness in the nose
followed up with a sledgehammer take down of
diesel and petrol.
Taste – Gees Louise! There’s more diesel
fuel in this wine than at truck stop along I-35.
I didn’t know whether or not I was drinking a
wine or stopping to put gas in my Blazer. I
know, try to say something nice here…let’s
see…uh, we didn’t die after consuming it or
needed to be rushed to the hospital! How
about minerally, would that suffice!
How embarrassing! I brought this wine to the
tasting and it was the most expensive. It’s
true what they say, money can’t buy
happiness! Well maybe the wine critics
believe that Australia is the next sure thing in
Riesling wines, but this tasting panel believes
that they have their work cut out for them! I
will leave on a positive note though, I bet this
wine would last longer than the rest in a wine
cellar. I’m not clear on whether that would be
a good or a bad thing!
color than any of the others, indicating age in
the wine, had, as Miles would put it, a flutter of
dessert wine, honeyed richness in the nose
followed up with a sledgehammer take down of
diesel and petrol.
Taste – Gees Louise! There’s more diesel
fuel in this wine than at truck stop along I-35.
I didn’t know whether or not I was drinking a
wine or stopping to put gas in my Blazer. I
know, try to say something nice here…let’s
see…uh, we didn’t die after consuming it or
needed to be rushed to the hospital! How
about minerally, would that suffice!
How embarrassing! I brought this wine to the
tasting and it was the most expensive. It’s
true what they say, money can’t buy
happiness! Well maybe the wine critics
believe that Australia is the next sure thing in
Riesling wines, but this tasting panel believes
that they have their work cut out for them! I
will leave on a positive note though, I bet this
wine would last longer than the rest in a wine
cellar. I’m not clear on whether that would be
a good or a bad thing!
| Price - $24.00 |
| Average Score – 78.17 |
| Price - $11.69 (how’s that for exactness) |