2010 Fess Parker Riesling Rodney's Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (5) Median Score: 88 points

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  10/7/2012 - DaveZack wrote: 88 Points

  O........M........G!!!! This wine has an incredibly beautiful bouquet, displaying gorgeous floral elements, along with typical mineral Riesling characteristics. This wine has such a fantastic nose that it could almost do double-duty as a perfume. This is the kind of wine whose bouquet is so beautiful and alluring that I’d be perfectly happy simply sniffing it all day and night long (without taking a single sip). I’m serious; it’s THAT gorgeous!
  
  The grapes for this wine came from Fess’ estate vineyard, named after Fess’ late son-in-law. Fess obviously loved his son-in-law because some of Fess’ best wines are sourced from grapes that are grown on the estate (especially Rodney’s Syrah, which is fantastic). What better way to honor your late, beloved son-in-law than to name your fabulous estate vineyard after him?!?!
  
  This low-alcohol, fresh, crisp Riesling is perfect for summer sipping (in this case, early Autumn, which in Southern California, can easily be confused for Summer). This is a classic dry Riesling, showing fantastic minerality and floral elements, with a crisp fruit profile showcased by green apples and pears. There’s also hints/suggestions of spices like white pepper and savory herbs like thyme and rosemary.
  
  Most wine drinkers have probably never had a dry Riesling. Generally speaking, the grapes for dry Riesling are picked a bit earlier than normal Riesling grapes, resulting in low-alcohol, crisp, clean, minerally whites that are extremely food friendly and, if done correctly, delicious beyond belief.
  
  This isn’t the best dry Riesling I’ve ever had; it’s difficult to beat a great German Riesling from Mosel. But for Santa Barbara County, this one’s tough to beat.
  
  We paired this wine with a freshly-roasted beet salad with radishes, tomatoes, blue cheese, and Italian flat leaf parsley. This wine went PERFECTLY with the beet salad. I would image this wine would also go great with most/any raw seafood dishes, especially clams on the half-shell and a chilled seafood platter (crab legs, lobster, clams, oysters, etc.). If we had to drink this wine again, I would pair it with clams on the half-shell; that would be a match made in heaven.
  
  This wine is drinking perfectly right this moment and will probably age/mature well for another 10 years or so if stored properly. Mosel Rieslings can age well for DECADES (even up to 100 years), but I’m not quite sure this wine has those kinds of “legs.” Either way, if you have this bottle in your cellar or fridge, stop procrastinating and open this wine and enjoy with the pairing suggestions listed above.

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  10/4/2012 - lifeattable Does not like this wine: 79 Points

  Did not care for this at all. Tasted like a rubber band soaked in gasoline.

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  8/5/2012 - phillywinefinder wrote:

  Let's face it, if you like "dry" Riesling, you really don't like Riesling. Fess Parker Dry Riesling http://bit.ly/OJS1Qj

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  7/23/2012 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Retail ~$25. I paid $14 at the PLCB. I have visited Fess Parker winery a couple of times and I used to watch Daniel Boone reruns every Saturday morning when I was a kid. So, I have a soft spot for FP wines. I have had several pinots and syrahs and even a couple of their chardonnays. Good juice, nothing life-altering, but solid, very good wine. I was therefore a little bit excited when this showed up in the PLCB system. A great nose of grapefruit and white peaches, with an acidity that smacks your mouth right away. An above-average finish for sure, this is really good, particularly at the price point. Very Good to Excellent. 89-90 points.
  
  *www.thedrunkencyclist.com

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  4/25/2012 - bbeissler wrote: 90 Points

  Slight mineral, baking spices, and lemon grasses on the nose. Pear and apricot on the palate, with undertones of mineral. Not a bad riesling with grilled chicken and corn on the cob.

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