2016 A to Z Riesling

Year: 2016

Producer: A to Z

Region: Rogue Valley, Oregon

Grape(s): Riesling

Alcohol: 12%

Body: Medium

Dry/Sweet: Semi-Sweet

Tasting Notes: Spring flowers, peach, nectarine, lychee, lemon

Pairings: Indian, Moroccan, summer picnics.

Price (approximately): $14

 

My Musings:

I love Riesling. So much so that I have consecutive Costco Corner postings on the subject. Apologies for the duplicity.

Wonderfully aromatic wine with notes of spring flowers, white peach, nectarine, subtle lychee, honeysuckle and lemon. The lychee becomes more prominent on the palate, with ripe stone fruit, citrus and a pleasant, honeyed sweetness.

There is tremendous versatility and pairing potential. Great for dishes that are spicy and complex, such as Indian, Asian, Moroccan. My latest pairing was Indian dishes of chana masala, eggplant tikka masala and saag. The sweetness of the wine paired wonderfully with the spice and flavor profiles of the cuisine. Also reminiscent of spring and summer picnics with youthful, fresh elements. Toss in the picnic basket or just sip on a warm afternoon.

A portion of the sale from each bottle supports bee health research. So drink, be merry, and simultaneously save the bees!

Cheers!

2015 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling

Year: 2015

Producer: Charles Smith Winery

Region: Columbia Valley, Washington

Grape(s): Riesling

Alcohol: 12%

Body: Medium

Dry/Sweet: Sweet

Tasting Notes: Lychee, white peach, lime

Pairings: Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian Cuisine, Mauritian grilled lobster, blackened swordfish with mango chutney

Price (approximately): $10

 

My Musings:

I love Riesling. Complex, wonderful fruit flavors, balanced acidity, aging potential. There is much to appreciate. With the ever expanding and experimenting New World, you can also find a decent bottle at a good price outside Alsace or Mosel.

Enter Charles Smith's Kung Fu Girl, produced in Columbia Valley, Washington. This Riesling is wonderfully aromatic with notes of lychee, white peach, citrus lime and some floral accents. Oh, and did I mention lychee? Sweet but balanced with good acidity and minerality. Wine Spectator made this a Top 100 wine of 2016. Not sure I would have gone that far, but it is a good, sweet Riesling and, at $10, worth picking up. You won't be blown away by its complexity or depth, but hey, you also didn't just spend $40 (unless you bought 4 bottles).

One of my favorite aspects of Riesling? Pairing potential. Pair with Southeast Asian cuisines that contain tropical and citrus elements, such as Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese and Cambodian. The sweetness of the wine will balance heat intensity characteristic of these regions, while lychee notes will complement tropical and citrus elements commonly contained in the dishes, such as lime and coconut. Other great pairings would include Mauritian grilled lobster and blackened swordfish with mango chutney.

Ganbei!

2016 Kirkland Signature Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc

Year: 2016

Producer: Kirkland Signature

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price (approximately): $7

My Musings:

On the nose, the wine expressed subtle floral elements with grass, bell pepper and citrus (grapefruit and lemon peel). The palate enjoyed ripe citrus and bell pepper, with grapefruit becoming more pronounced as the wine warmed. Overall, the wine was light-to-medium bodied, very well-balanced, and did not contain the overbearingly bracing acidity that can be present in New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.

The Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc is a fine expression of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and at $7, the price is unmatched. It is as close to pilfering as one could hope to (legally) achieve. Buy, drink, enjoy. Repeat as needed.

Check out my full Costco Corner New Zealand post here!

Cheers!

2015 Yalumba Organic Viognier

Year: 2015

Producer: Yalumba Winery

Region: South Australia, Australia

Grape(s): Viognier

Alcohol: 14.1%

Price (approximately): $16

My Musings:

One word: apricot.

The wine is pale straw with green hues. The aromas are strong with ripe stone fruit (apricot and peach), with floral accents of jasmine and honeysuckle. Creamy, rich flavors of (you guessed it) apricot nectar coat the palate, accented by bright citrus flavors and subtle spice on the finish. Tremendously well-balanced with terrific acidity.

Simply a fabulous wine. One of my favorite weekday white wines, and the organic harvesting helps those who suffer easily from headaches. This wine is perfect for summer sipping or taking to the BYOB restaurant.

Speaking of BYOB ... try this wine with shrimp Pad Thai (Thai Issan in Honolulu has great Pad Thai, but be sure to stay within a reasonable spice range to avoid overpowering the wine), fried rice (build your own fried rice at The Rice Place!), or Moroccan vegetarian couscous (Kan Zaman if you are dining in Honolulu). Of course, with such great ripe stone fruit and balanced citrus, you can simply sit back and enjoy on its own.

Cheers!

2015 Loimer Lois Grüner Veltliner

Year: 2015

Producer: Loimer Winery

Region: Kamptal, Austria

Grape(s): Grüner Veltliner

Alcohol: 12%

Price (approximately): $14

Winemaker's Notes:

Pale yellow color, this wine is purely aromatic and lively! Lovely aromas of fresh apples and citrus, this wine surprises on the palate with great spice components as well as exotic fruit and a refreshing acidity.

To be enjoyed either on its own, as an apértif or with light dishes.

"A little bit of green pear, a little bit of pepper and quite a bit of juiciness add up to a whole lot of easy-drinking fun on this light, dry and zippy Grüner. There's some spice and yeastiness around the edges, too. Drink soon." Wine Spectator

2015 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontés

Year: 2015

Producer: Crios de Susana Balbo Winery

Region: Salta, Argentina

Grape(s): Torrontés

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price (approximately): $10

Winemaker's Notes:

Enticing aromas that are strikingly similar to Viognier, with hints of peach pit, white pear, flowers, and orange citrus fruit. On the palate, it has beautiful structure and acidity similar to Sauvignon Blanc along with enticing fruit flavors and plenty of body for a wine that shows such delicate aromas and flavors. Fruity, floral and yet still quite dry, this wine has to be tasted to be believed.

Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, and seafood.