WTN: Two Dry Rieslings

Two dry rieslings were tasted with the same main dish: panfried tilapia (coated with egg and panko)

Riesling #1: Light straw color with a shy nose expressing a hint of citrus. Bracing acidity, light lemon, and minerals on the palate. Good balance. Medium finish, mostly minerals. Nice match with tilapia. My impression of this wine is that it is a bit too understated and austere for my tastes with not enough going on.

Riesling #2. Light straw color with luscious nose of melon and citrus. Initial impression of this wine is the nice balance on my palate. The twangy acidity and lemon and grapefruit tastes of this wine matched very nicely with the tilapia. The long grapefruity finish of this wine was like a lingering kiss from a lover. My impression of this wine was that it is one of the best dry rieslings I have tasted. Great food wine that I liked for sipping too.

#1: 2002 Leeuwin Art Series Riesling from Margaret River. 12.5 % abv. Price: $22

#2: 2004 Cuvee Emile Willm Reserve Riesling from Alsace. 12.5% abv. Price: $17

A very enjoyable Alsace Riesling for under $20. Good find!

Why am I not surprised by the alsatian beating out the Oz riesling. I like OZ, but I love Alsace!

I was also rather pleased with some recent Willms I've tried. I had previously thought them to be a rather middling producer, but they have made some genuinely interesting stuff recently. Anyone know if some changes have been going on?

Hi Otto,

This is the first Willm I have ever tried. In Ontario we usually do not get much variety from Alsace. Mostly the big negotiants like Trimbach. The LCBO (our provincial wine and liquor store) recently featured Alsace and a selection of their wines. This was one of their better rieslings from my read of the tasting notes of this release.

Isn`t Willn part of the huge Wolfberger range out of Equisheim? Think will lookout here, thanks for the heads up! Tour de France tasting tonite in town at usual place, DeVines.

I was also rather pleased with some recent Willms I've tried. I had previously thought them to be a rather middling producer, but they have made some genuinely interesting stuff recently. Anyone know if some changes have been going on?

Otto, picked up the new `04 vintage, Willm P Gris. Lets hope this winery is on the upturn! Seem to be mistaken in my remarks regarding being part of the Wolfberger empire.

Dry Rieslings?

Here's a winery for you:

http://www.claibornechurchill.com/default.asp

2005 Dry Gewurztraminer, Central Coast

2005 Dry Riesling,Central Coast

2005 Dry Muscat

Also:
2004 Edna Valley Pinot Noir
2005 Pinot Gris

Otto, picked up the new `04 vintage, Willm P Gris. Lets hope this winery is on the upturn! Seem to be mistaken in my remarks regarding being part of the Wolfberger empire.

IIRC I tasted this in a big trade fair recently. I thought it fine, true enough to the grape and true enough to Alsace, but not particularily memorable. It was nice enough (at least for the 5cl sample - wouldn't know about a bottle, obviously), but I really did think that Riesling and especially Gewurztraminer were what they had improved compared to previous tastings. One Gewurz we had was quite lovely in fact!

Thanks Otto, the Gewurtz is here too so will give it a spin. The `04 I trust?
Oh yeah, gonna open the muscadet tonight.