WTN: Tantal(us)yzing

[Jenise]

Last night with roast chicken in a very spicy coconut milk sauce:

2013 Tantalus Vineyards Riesling Okanagan Valley VQA
Bright light yellow-gold color. Nose of minerals and fresh coconut, on the palate an absolutely divine array of Asian things like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, lychee nut, and green papaya. Great acidity made it cut and precise on the tongue. Should hold here for years. Loved loved loved it.

But before dinner, a neighbor passed two glasses of this over the fence:

2006 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five Stags Leap District
Mature nose with rusty sweet cherry fruit and resolved tannins suggests early 2000 California cabernet. Still drinks well, very well, but the wine has peaked.

[David M. Bueker]

Good on you for being patient with the Tantalus.

[Jenise]

Not hard; so much more interesting now than when younger.

Yup, Tantalus needs time. Likewise Pewsey Vale from Oz.

Was that the regular Tantalus or the Old Vines?

[Jenise]

The regular.

I have that one too. The OV is one of my favourite BC Rieslings.

Just got a case of Synchromesh Riesling - will open some with you in 6-17 months (latest estimates) when they open the border.

[Jenise]

Thanks!

I also think Tantalus and Synchromesh are the top two BC riesling producers. The Synchromesh are definitely getting harder to find, and the Tantalus OV is too to some extent. You have to be fast at retail (or buy from the wineries).

[Jenise]

It's hard to imagine a wine more interesting than what we drank, but would definitely be up for one of those Old Vines some day. I've had Syncromesh too (love their labels), but only very young.