Snoqualmie 2010 Naked Riesling

This week I tried a 2010 Snoqualmie 'Naked' Riesling made around Paterson, WA, which is in the Columbia River valley in the middle of the state on the border with Oregon.  It ran me under $10.

(The picture is blurry because it's naked.)

I guess this is an example of why I shouldn't buy inexpensive wine.  I aerated it, but the first glass or two tasted a bit chemically, not a fully developed wine.  Now, I will say that after a couple days in the fridge it was more drinkable, if not a great or even a good riesling.  Maybe it just needed time to open up.  The label description is generic: spice, pear, and apricot.  That describes most middle of the dryness range rieslings.

I wouldn't buy it again, but if you something to take to a house warming or somewhere and see this, give it a try.

Mibrandt 2010 Riesling

This week I drank a 2010 Milbrandt Riesling hailing from the Columbia Valley around Mattawa, WA.  It ran me $13.

I aerated this and all the flavors came out.  The label lists apricots (ok, I didn't get this), peaches (definitely), grapefruit (yup), and spice.  It didn't have the apple/pear notes that I've found in a lot of Rieslings this summer.  Acidity is just enough and not overly sweet.  A nice Riesling for a light meal.

2009 Carmel Road Riesling

The last few days I've been drinking a 2009 Carmel Road Riesling from Monterey; it cost me a little under $14.

This is one of my favorite Rieslings of the summer.  Mildly sweet, some acidity but it doesn't hit the back of the tongue, and more body than most of the ones I've tried.  It was almost like a Sauvignon Blanc.

The label says notes of grapefruit and peach (which I'll agree with) as well as lime peel and guava (no expert here on what guava tastes like).  They recommend it for the usual Riesling pairings as well as spicy food, which I agree with.  They say sushi too; not so sure about that, but I'd be willing to try it.

A very nice Riesling at a good price.

2007 Pierre Sparr Alsace One

This last week I drank a 2007 Pierre Sparr Alsace One that ran me a little over $10, I think.

This isn't a true Riesling.  It's a blend of Sylvaner, muscat, riesling, pinot blanc, and Klevener de Heiligenstein.

So what's Klevener de Whatever?  According to wikipedia, it's "a designation used on Alsace wine made from pink-skinned Savagnin Rose grapes, a variety in the Traminer family, but which is less aromatic than Gewürztraminer."  This is the only grape that's restricted to a geographic area of Alsace.

The little dry to sweet chart on the back of the bottle has this at the far dry end.  I'll agree with that.  I tend to prefer dry to sweet wines.  This wasn't bad and didn't taste like grapefruit juice like some dry Rieslings, but at the same time it didn't have a lot of subtlety of flavor.

This wasn't bad; it would probably be good with grilled fish.  Just not the wine for me.