Community Tasting Note

DaveZack wrote:

Sunday, June 12, 2011 - Got this bottle during BevMo's 5-Cent Sale for approximately $7.53 (normally $15/bottle) and drank with garlic chicken, mushroom medley, and rice pilaf.
The bouquet is mostly minerals; imagine a bunch of granite rocks sitting in a pot of water.
This is a nice Riesling, especially for 7.5 bucks! Partially due to a low alcohol level (only 12.5%) (these grapes obviously weren't harvested in November; they were probably picked in September), this Riesling eschews the typcial West Coast Riesling trappings of over-sweetness. A lot of Rieslings stand on the edge of the abyss, looking down that deep, dark hole of almost-sweet-enough-to-be-a-dessert-wine. Good, quality Rieslings exhibit fantastic acidity, mountains of minerals, plenty of spices like white pepper with suggestions of sage and rosemarry, with a low-alcohol, well-balanced structure that allows the wine to pair well with savory poultry dishes, JUST LIKE THIS WINE.
I've read a lot about Charles Smith and always wanted to try one or more of his wines. This bottle is my first C.S. wine and it's a winner. This Riesling paired very well with the garlic chicken and would pair equally well with raw seafood (like oysters on the half shell, ceviche, and a chilled fresh seafood platter) and even a white cheese platter (I imagine this wine would pair well with salty cheeses like Parmigiano). The low sugar and alcohol levels facilitates this wine being a great food partner. I've had more complex and sophisticated Rieslings, but for $7.50-ish a bottle, this is one hell of a bargain. If you're within a four-hour drive of a BevMo, get in your car and buy a few cases of this nice Riesling!

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