Local AWS Riesling Tasting

Our local AWS chapter met this past Sunday with a smaller group than usual, which I think was due to Fathers Day. The wines are put in brown bags and poured in order and scored with the 20-point AWS system. The first score is mine, while the second is the group average. Some were very good, but none really rocked my boat. Only a few indicated sweetness, but I think the progression was pretty good. None tasted much higher than 2% RS.
1. 2009 Hart Wine Cellar Dry Riesling, Niagara Escarpment, NY 13 - 11.55, $ n/c. The first wine is always difficult to judge. Light straw, nothing distinctive, but pleasant on the nose, a bit tart, medium finish (0.9% RS), not bad.
2. 2007 DuBonné Vineyard Riesling, Grand River Valley, OH 16 - 13.32, $11. Aroma of pears and melons, good balance and medium finish.
3. 2006 Sheldrake Point Riesling, Finger Lakes, NY 16 - 13.91, $15. Nice golden color, touch of petrol, listed as 1.8% RS – good balance and med-long finish.
4. 2008 Barnard Griffin Riesling, Columbia Valley, WA 16 - 14.18, $12. Light straw, while Rielsings can vary in their aromas, this one smelled unmistakably “Riesling”, med finish and well done.
5. 2007 Pierre Sparr Riesling, Alsace 17 - 14.50, $11. Light gold, hints of minerals and a med-long dry finish. Nice.
6. 2005 Leitz Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Trocken, Rheingau 16, 14.50, $37. Honey and petrol, medium dry, with a full, long finish.
7. 2002 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 14 - 14.27, $17. Floral, light gold, medium finish, solid wine.
8. 2008 Chateau Grand Traverse Lot 49, Old Mission Peninsula, MI 15 - 14.32, $22. Light gold, hint of anise and citrus. Medium long finish. This bottle was gifed to me by JuliaB and according to their website was awarded gold medals in SF and London.
9. 2002 Bert Simon Serrig Wurtzberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel, 12 - 13.41 $25. This seemed a bit thin and disjointed – 9% abv.
10. 2006 Hart Wine Cellar Cayuga White, Niagara County, NY, 14 - 12.64, $ n/c. Last year I found a forgotten 5-gallon carboy of this in a corner of my cellar and was amazed at how “Riesling-like” the wine had become. I asked that this be poured as a ringer and a few folks were fooled. (I think many hybrids are underrated.)

It’s always amazing to experience the variety of styles in Riesling and this was a fun tasting. Afterwards, folks munch on appetizers everyone brings, but by the time we finished tasting, I was already late for a combo Birthday / Fathers Day cookout at my son’s, but I did manage to snag a couple of deviled eggs, topped with caviar before I left.

[James Roscoe]

Happy father's Day Howie. that is a rather eclectic line up. How would you compare the various styles?

Same to you James. Everyone brought at least one bottle and an appetizer or dessert (My dessert was, I think, a disaster, but that's for a Kitchen Forum thread.) From a wine maker's perspective, I think one does the best they can with the grapes presented to them. There is little that one can do with Riesling, as opposed to other grapes. Yes, one can vary the harvest date or choose a specific yeast, but the wine from Riesling is more about the grapes than the wine maker. And since these wines were literally from all over the place, there almost seemed to be a similarity of wine making styles yet distinct fruit characteristics. Most of the wines had a similar acid : sugar ratio and were well balanced.

[James Roscoe]

That is interesting. I have had well-made Riesling from just about everywhere on the planet and I have to say it might be the single best grape out there. I understand why people turn into such rabid Riesling geeks. Note, it is not my favorite grape. I do not have one of those. That is like asking which of my children is my favorite. There are days when everything comes together that Riesling is my favorite. I think Riesling can do that on it's own in more different styles than any other grape. Thus the fascination of people like David Bueker and Salil. Again, a very enjoyable report.