2006-10-18 09:59:59 · 9 answers · asked by eeeeeeeeclipse 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
I think Blue Nun is the best, but can't find it just everywhere.
2006-10-18 10:09:33 · answer #1 · answered by Oghma Gem 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I agree, there are quite a few, ranging from fairly cheap to relatively expensive. If you are into a sweeter riesling, by all means try wines affected by boytritis or "noble rot" also ice wines are tremendous, both of which come with semi-hefty price tags for casual wine drinkers like myself. (Riesling is one wine I am passionate about though) Do yourself a favor and do NOT try Blue nun-it basically ruined true Riesling to the world. No offense if you like it, it's just not a good representation of Riesling. I'm also not a fan of Relax either.
My favorite for everyday drinking would have to be '04-'05 Chateau St. Michelle out of Washington. Dr. Loosen also puts out a consistantly great product, but I just had the Chateau-Dr. Loosen '04 collaboration "Eroica" this past weekend and it was simply amazing. Golden straw colored, with a hint of mint, a bit of grapefruit, a good amount of honey drizzled pineapple and peaches. Very well balanced with its acidity, alcohol, and sweetness. My fiancee found it a little more crisp than most Riesling's we've tasted lately, but also thought it was very well balanced. We had it on its own, but it would have been amazing with some decent chinese food. I think I found it for under $25 and easily in my top 5 possibly top 3 all time. Hogue puts out a decent late harvest that is pretty cheap as well. Fairly sweet-big time overtones of honey covered peaches and apricots. Covey Run, amazingly enough (picked up at a gas station of all places) had a fairly decent complexity for its humble beginnings, pineapple, a hint of mango, some mint off the cork, and just the right amount of slate to balance the sweetness but a not quite as crisp as I would've liked. Much more impressive than its $8 price tag though, so I've tried it again, and been just as impressed. If you're looking German from what I've read and experienced the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer is one of the best, if not the best producer out there. If you're really into tasting the earth where a particular wine was grown, try one from M-S-R called "Ars Vitae" or something along those lines. It has a frosted bottle with an open window on the front that looks through to a painting on the back label of the bottle. (Very cool bottle at the very least) 2003 was the vintage I tried I believe.
Riesling comes from Germany originally so the best can still be found there. German Riesling can be confusing, just remember Kabinett is the earliest harvest, so it is typically the most dry, then it is spatlese, next auslese, which is technically "late harvest" then beerenauslese which I believe is at least 75% boytritis infected, and trockenbeerenauslese which is hand selected boytritisized grapes, and then ice wine or eiswein which are berries that are picked and pressed when frozen, so the sugars are extremely concentrated. The last three are easily twice the price of a normal bottle, and are typically only half bottles, but excellent desert wines. Rieslings are also some of the best agers among white wines, so if you're looking to put down a few bottles, get some details from the producer before purchasing about aging potentials. Most are just 5-10 years, but some others (not many) can be put down as long as your fine cabernets- up to 50 years.
2006-10-18 12:43:10 · answer #2 · answered by Chris L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2005 Indian Wells Riesling $18.29 is a wonderful Riesling. It is produced in Washington State’s Columbia Valley. Just enjoying the aromas of ripe pineapple, mango, and peach is a treat. This is a crisp, well balanced wine. I'd recommend it for Thanksgiving for white wine drinkers.
2006-10-19 19:21:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Loosen - Dr L Riesling
2006-10-18 10:05:39 · answer #4 · answered by LAUGHING MAGPIE 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My god! There are tens of thousands.
Most wine afficionadoes feel the best come from the Mosel and Rheingau districts in Germany. Most of those are very fruity, light in alcohol and even a bit sweet.
It is generally argued as well that the best bone dry reislings - and some of the most underpriced fine wines in the world - come from nearby Alsace. (I agree).
Recently, the New York Times' wine critic wrote a column of great praise of recent reislings grown in southernmost Australia and from New Zealand.
I personally have affection for many of the reislings from the Okanagan in British Columbia.
In my judgement most American reislings, with exception of some from the Finger Lakes appellation of NY, are too "fat" in their character to be serious dinner wines but still can be pleasant for casual sipping.
2006-10-18 10:15:35 · answer #5 · answered by Hank 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I enjoy the '04 and '05 Cheateau St. Michele from Washington. It's cheap but a nice wine.
2006-10-18 10:03:38 · answer #6 · answered by yblur 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hogue Cellars makes a really good "Late Harvest" Reisling. It has essences of peaches and pears. Very good!
2006-10-18 10:10:58 · answer #7 · answered by Garee H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mischlesburg Piesporter it's a german wine. I have probably botched the spelling, but it is quite nice none the less.
2006-10-18 10:10:18 · answer #8 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hogue (From Washington State, I believe)
Fess Parker (really, Fess Parker!)
2006-10-18 10:05:53 · answer #9 · answered by Malika 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋