2005 Angeline Mendocino County Riesling

On November 4, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Angeline Riesling by the Martin Ray Winery from Mendocino County in California. This 100% Reisling was procured for under $5. Rieslings are touted as being some of the most complex and desirable wines in the world. With high acidity they can last for decades and they pair very well with food. What is your impression of this varietal?

Color

The color is a medium gold which looks very appealing in the glass.

Aroma

Green apple is present on the nose along with petrol.

Flavor

Green apple again is present but there is also honeydew melon on the mid-palate. A nice finish with more fruit. For such a low price, this wine offers lots of different flavors. It is a little weak on the acidity; although, I think most people will enjoy the smoothness of it. The maker touts it as a dry Riesling. It isn’t as sweet as some but still is quite sweet. The finish reminds me of Muscadine grapes.

Rating

I think this wine is a great value. But it is sweet and fruity. I rate it 88 points.

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2006 Hogue Riesling

On October 30, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Riesling from The Hogue Cellars in Columbia Valley Washington. I found this wine for under $8 in a screw cap bottle. Interestingly, Hogue switched to screw caps after doing a 4 year closure study and concluding that the screw caps are superior. Bravo!

Color

The color on this wine is very interesting. It has yellow components and not as much golden. It is attractive in the glass.

Aroma

This is a very aromatic wine. I detect orange, peach and mango. Very fresh and fruity aroma.

Flavor

The attack is all fruit. Sweet apricot and orange quickly fade into a mid-palate of grapefruit, apricot and cream. The finish is long with lingering apricots. There is a hint of green apple on the end. My one complaint is that this wine is not acidic enough to balance out all the sweetness of the fruit. If you like dessert wines then this will be right up your alley.

Rating

If you want a very sweet Riesling then I recommend you give this a try. If you are searching for a dryer, more acidic mineral driven Riesling, then stay away. I rate it 87 points.

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2008 Cono Sur Riesling

On October 22, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Cono Sur Riesling from Chile. Previously, I have discussed the environmental commitment of the Cono Sur Vineyards and Winery as well as really enjoying the 2008 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc. This 100% Riesling with the colorful screw top comes from the Bio Bio Valley and is aged in stainless steel tanks. It is a good value as I found it for under $10.

Color

The color is a light golden yellow. Darker than some other Rieslings I have had.

Aroma

The nose of this wine is zesty. I get lemon and lime right off the bat. Very light and refreshing aroma.

Flavor

The attack is very sweet with some apple flavors. The mid-palate continues to be quite sweet but also shows some citric flavors and even grapefruit toward the end. The wine fades away pretty quickly and leaves some nice acid on the ending. It should pair well with spicy dishes and even seafood with lots of lemon. I think it would taste pretty good with ceviche. Overall, this is not a strong flavored wine and is a bit too sweet on the attack for me.

Rating

I think this wine is ok. It doesn’t have a lot of complexity and is too sweet for me. I rate it at 86 points. If you like sweet Rieslings, then I definitely recommend you try this one.

Have you tried a Cono Sur wine yet? I am still searching for their Carmenere.

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2008 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling

On October 21, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

From the Columbia Valley region of Washington, I am tasting the 2008 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling. I found this wine for under $8 and have previously enjoyed it. We’ll see how it does today. One knock in packaging is the use of a real cork.

Color

Good color for a Riesling. Very light gold. Quite attractive in the glass.

Aroma

Right off the bat the green apple is very obvious and strong. There is also some peach and cantaloupe coming through as well. The nose is lovely with the peach cobbler starting to win out.

Flavor

Lots of sweet fruit on the attack. Perhaps a bit too sweet for me. Golden delicious apples, peach, oranges, and mango mixed together. The mid-palate shows a bit more apple and the finish exhibits the acid and ginger. There is a nice level of acidity which will pair great with all types of spicy food. For non-wine drinkers who like sugar this will be an easy aperitif.

Rating

Overall this is a sweet (like ginger ale) wine with some good acidity. I rate it 87 points.

Have you tried any of the Chateau Ste Michelle wines?

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