Archive: USA: Washington: Riesling
Buried Cane 2007 Riesling Washington State ($14). Dry, crisp and refreshing, offering green apple, nectarine, floral and lime/tangerine aromas and flavors, with a lean, mineral-laced finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-06-11)
Chateau Ste. Michelle
2005 Riesling Columbia Valley Eroica ($22). If you only try one of these wines, make it this one from Washington’s prolific Chateau Ste. Michelle. Ripe apricot mingles with juicy citrus, with a silky texture and a final burst of spice and more citrus length. Ready to drink now and over the next three years. (Robyn’s Picks 06/06)
Riesling Columbia Valley Eroica. This joint effort between one of Washington’s most prolific and successful wineries and one of Germany’s Mosel Valley’s most famous estates is making a world class Riesling that just might be the kick in the pants this country apparently needs to get on the Riesling bandwagon. The 1999 and 2000 vintages were both excellent, bursting with silky apple, apricot, and juicy pear fruit. Add the appealing mineral and wildflower honey notes and outstanding structure, and you have yourself one heck of a wine. This is not a sweet wine! It’s merely off-dry, but with a tremendous flavor punch. Delicious now, but will age beautifully for at least eight years. It’s priced at $20. You owe it to yourself to try this! (Robyn’s Picks, 02/02)
1998 Riesling Columbia Valley Cold Creek Vineyard ($13). I had heard the praises of this wine, but tried it here for the first time. Loved it! Sparkling apricot, sweet peach, cold clean finish. Great summer drinking. Ready now, so buy some now! (Weekend Wine, 05/00)
Columbia Crest
2003 Riesling Columbia Valley ($10). Pretty floral bouquet, with ripe apricot and peach flavors laced with wildflower honey. Ready to drink now.
2002 Johannisberg Riesling Columbia Valley ($7). Sweet peach and floral bouquet gives way to a clean, refreshing wine that features delicate peach, apricot and citrus fruit. Just off-dry. Ready to drink now. (Robyn’s Picks, 06/03)
Columbia Winery 2005 Riesling Columbia Valley Cellarmaster’s ($10). Off-dry, certainly, with sweet honeysuckle, peach and apricot flavors that linger through the slightly spicy finish. Offers some refreshing, balancing acidity at the end. A fun choice for crowds or for pairing with spicy Thai takeout. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 04/07)
Covey Run 2005 Riesling Columbia Valley ($7). Always a good value from Washington State, with medium bodied peach, apricot and white floral aromas and flavors that linger nicely on the slightly spicy finish. Vibrant acidity and dry minerality support it all. Ready to drink now. (Robyn’s Picks 06/06)
Cupcake Vineyards 2009 Dry Riesling Columbia Valley ($15). An appealing little wine, with green apple and mineral accents to racy grapefruit, tangerine and crisp peach flavors. Food friendly, too — paired nicely with a pumpkin risotto studded with shrimp and pancetta. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-07-21)
Hogue
2005 Riesling Columbia Valley ($9). Loads of mouthwatering apricot is front and center here, from the nose to the lingering finish. Picks up a burst of juicy tangerine along the way. Delicious and ready to drink now. (Winery Spotlight 12/06)
2005 Riesling Columbia Valley Genesis ($16). Mandarin orange aromas and flavors are accented with dried apricot, pineapple and a dash of exotic spices. Shows nice complexity for the price. Ready to drink now and over the next year or two. (Winery Spotlight 12/06)
2000 Johannisberg Riesling Columbia Valley ($8). Off-dry, with nicely focused nectarine and golden apple fruit flavors. Also showing citrus and floral notes and aromas. Great match for spicy foods. Ready to drink now. (ETFOFW, 02/02)
1999 Johannisberg Riesling Columbia Valley ($8). This off-dry Washington State Riesling has a lovely bouquet, full of floral and orange peel aromas. On the palate it is well structured with crisp apple flavors balanced by soft, spicy apricot and more floral notes. Nice finish. Drink now. (Weekend Wine, 10/02)
J. Bookwalter 2010 Riesling Columbia Valley Anecdote ($14). Super bright, mouthwatering acidity supports loads of intense green apple fruit, with accents of Key lime pie, tangerine, honeydew melon and a touch of mineral that lingers on the finish. Off-dry. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2011-08-11)
Pacific Rim
2009 Riesling Columbia Valley ($11). Fresh and pretty, with honeyed pear and nectarine aromas and flavors, ending with touches of sweet lime and tangerine. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-10-16)
2009 Sweet Riesling Columbia Valley ($11). Sweet, certainly, but balanced with zesty acidity. Offering light tropical citrus and ripe peach, with a wildflower honey note on the fresh finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-10-16)
2008 Riesling Columbia Valley ($14). Pretty orange blossom and jasmine aromas introduce off-dry pear and juicy citrus flavors that linger nicely on the mouthwatering finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-07-14)
2007 Sweet Riesling Columbia Valley ($11). Lush fruit on a refreshing, low-alcohol (9%) frame, offering juicy peach, tropical citrus and honey notes that linger on the finish. The bottle suggests pairing this with “fiery fare” like Szechwan or Thai food, but I went for more of a dessert cheese course — chevre drizzled with wildflower honey, plump dried apricots and a handful of almonds. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-09-09)
2006 Dry Riesling Columbia Valley ($11). Bright and tangy, with crisp lemon, tangerine, apple and wildflower honey that stay juicy through the finish. Ready to drink now. I paired this with a summery cheese plate of Gorwydd Caerphilly (a crumbly tomme-style cow’s milk cheese from Wales), some dense olive bread and a sliced summer tomato lightly seasoned and drizzled with olive oil — totally worked! Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-09-09)
Seven Hills 2009 Riesling Columbia Valley ($14). A really stunning Riesling, and a fantastic value. With pretty, mouthwatering aromas of honeysuckle, green apple, lemon zest, green fig and mineral notes that repeat on the palate, along with crisp pear. Lithe, refreshing, slightly off-dry but with such bright acidity that you hardly even notice. Long, complex finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. (2011-02-17)
Stonecap 2007 Riesling Columbia Valley ($12). Appealing complexity at this price, with floral accents to lush peach, nectarine and apple fruit, and a bright, mouthwatering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-03-20)
