I am very excited to share this year’s Riesling Winners with you. The top wines which we will highlight below are terrific options for you to consider for your Thanksgiving dinner and for all your holiday festivities. However, it should be noted that all these 90+ point Rieslingsdo cost $20 or more. They certainly deliver the quality that is worthy of your investment. Here is even more good news for those of you on a tighter budget. If you want to explore this noble grape, there are probably more Riesling values than any other varietal that I coved this year. See the very large list of Rieslings rated from 86 to 89 points listed below. Several of these Very Good value offerings cost less than $16.
Let’s start with my favorite Riesling for 2010. It was the 2008 Dr. Loosen 2008 “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese” for $30. I scored this phenomenal wine 94 points. It was Excellent! I loved its gentle acidity and delicious apricot and lime flavors. Its finished is slightly sweet and was very refreshing. This gem did not last long with our mini tasting group. We loved it and when all was said and done, it was our favorite Riesling for 2010.
Staying in the Mosel and at the Spatlese level, we come to our second favorite Riesling. The 2008 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler “Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese” for $29 earned this honor. Our mini tasting group scored this wine 93 points. It was more full-bodied than the Loosen and displayed nice balance between its sweetness and acidity. The flavor profile was a semi-dry ripe green apple with hints of apricot, mineral notes, and honey. The group deemed this gem, quite enjoyable.
The next two 92 point wines both come from a top Riesling producer in the Finger Lakes region in New York. Hermann Wiemer is this year’s front runner from this under appreciated world class region. His 2008 “Dry Reserve” Riesling for $23 and his 2008 “Magdalena Vineyard” Riesling for $36 are both fantastic examples of the high quality levels this region can achieve. The “Dry Reserve” Riesling is very complex with very tasty citrus and mineral flavors with notes of tangerine and lime peaking through. It was dry styled, very pleasant, and refreshing. The Magdalena Rieslingwas more full bodied than the Reserve. It was also well balanced, ripe, and polished. We really enjoyed its delicious tangerine flavors with hints of pineapple, minerality, and green grapes. This offering finishes a bit more semi-dry than dry, so consider it if you like your Riesling a little sweeter. Both of these Rieslings are big time winners. Seek them out to experience the best of the Finger Lakes.
Our next batch of Rieslings all scored 91 points. The first one we want to highlight comes from another under appreciated Riesling region. The 2009 Poet’s Leap Riesling from the Columbia Valley in Washington. It seems that this wine is very consistent with each vintage. This year’s offering is terrific and would work really well with your Thanksgiving dinner. It is also quite affordable and a great value considering the quality level it offers for $20. It is nicely balanced and shows gentle citrus acidity to go along with its mild Anjou pear flavors. I also detected some notes of lime and a touch of integrated minerals. I am certain this one will be popular and a crowd pleaser at your holiday gatherings.
The next five Rieslings all come from the Mosel region in Germany. The first four scored 91 points as noted above and the last one 90 points. We start with the 2008 Dr Loosen “Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett” for $25. It opens with an attractive mild Bartlett pear bouquet. Its mouthfeel is medium-bodied and incredibly well-balanced. We loved its very tasty lemon lime flavors with a hint of peach and spice. A few tasters discussed an undercurrent of mineral as well. We thought it was very food friendly and it would pair well with baked ham with brown mustard and sliced pineapple.
Next we return to Dr. Pauly Bergweiler. Their 2008 “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett” for $29 was the winner of our first blind flight of Rieslings. It was full-bodied, balanced, and displays nicely integrated acidity. The group identified its flavor profile as a very tasty pineapple and lemon blend with a hint of apricot mixed in. It finishes semi-dry and was very refreshing. They felt it would be perfect with brie.
Dr. Loosen as you can now see took several medals. The 2008 “Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese” for $30was my favorite from a mini flight of Spatlese offerings that I reviewed. It is full-bodied, well balanced, and shows harmonious acidity. Its very tasty mild ripe green apple flavors really draw you in. There are also hints of Anjou pear with a touch of minerality detected as well. The finish is mildly sweet and rather pleasant. This is another offering that I feel would perfectly complement your Thanksgiving turkey dinner.
The final 91 pointer finished in second place in our first blind flight of Rieslings – the 2008 Dr. H Thanisch “Berncasteler Doctor Kabinett” for $44 was my personal favorite in this tasting. It is white gold colored and opens with an attractive peach bouquet with a hint of orange. It was medium-bodied, balanced, gentle, and sophisticated. I loved its very tasty lemon iced tea flavors with notes of tangerine, green apple, and just a hint of honey. Its finish is semi dry and its tangerine flavors hang on and linger nicely. It is a bit pricey, but I thought it was complex and is worth trying.
We stay in Mosel for our first 90 point Riesling. The 2008 Studert Prum “Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett” for $21showed well in our first blind flight. It is medium-bodied, very well balanced, and shows harmonious acidity. For those readers that like gentle wines that are quite quaffable, look know further. This one displays delicious gentle lime and lemon with a hint of minerality. Its finish is semi-dry and lingers slightly. A couple of panelists thought this wine would do rather well on its own.
As many readers know, I am a big fan of white wines for the Anderson Valley in California. This 90 pointer from Lazy Creek is an example of why I like the region so much. Their 2007 Riesling for $24was my second favorite offering in a flight of dry Rieslings. It is medium to full-bodied, nicely round in the mouth, yet has a touch of crispiness. The flavor profile is a slightly ripe Anjou pear with very nicely integrated minerality. The finish is dry and rather pleasant. For those readers that like a dry styled Riesling, they will find this wine quite appealing.
Dr. Pauly Bergweiler scores another 90 pointer with their 2008 “Bernkasteler alte Badstube am Doctorberg Spatlese” for $33. This wine is medium-bodied, slightly viscous, yet effervescent and crisp. I enjoyed its ripe green apple flavors with notes of minerality, lime and tangerine. It would be perfect with skewered sea scallops and tuna.
The last two wines I am going to highlight scored 89 points. The reason I am highlighting these two is they both bring a little something extra over the other 89 pointers. The first is the 2009 Snoqualmie “Naked” Riesling from the Horse Heaven Hills in Washington. The key to this wine is it is Organic and a steal at $12. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very easy to drink. It displays tasty iced tea flavors with a hint of lemon and cantaloupe. It finishes is semi-sweet and is very pleasant. It a Very Good option to consider at your holiday parties.
The last highlighted Riesling is the 2008 Newport Riesling from Newport, RI. It is special because it is from Rhode Island. It also costs only $14. I also like that it is very consistent every year. I am always impressed with this wine. This year it is light-bodied, balanced and very approachable. The flavor profile is a tasty pear with hints of apricot, green apple, and lemon. Its finishes is semi dry and is quite very refreshing. Consider it a nice option with a roasted chicken. It you can get a bottle, you certainly will be impressed with this wine from Rhode Island!
More Very Good 89 point Rieslings that are seriously worthy of your consideration:
1) Heinz Eifel 2009 “Kabinett” Riesling (Mosel) $12
2) Buried Cane 2007 Riesling (Washington) $14
3) Dr. Konstantin Frank 2008 “Semi Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $15
4) Ravines 2008 “Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $15
5) Atwater 2008 Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $16
6) Anthony Road 2008 “Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $16
7) Hermann J. Wiemer 2008 “Semi Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $17
8) Hermann J. Wiemer 2008 “Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $18
9) Dr. Loosen 2009 “Blue Slate” Riesling(Mosel, Germany) $20
10) Amity 2008 “Dry Riesling”(Eola Amity Hills, Oregon) $20
11) Kilikanoon 2009 “Mort’s Block” Riesling (Clare Valley, Australia) $22
12) Hermann J. Wiemer 2008 “Late Harvest Riesling” (Finger Lakes, NY) $23
13) Lazy Creek 2008 Riesling (Anderson Valley, CA) $24
14) Dr. Loosen 2008 “Erdener Treppchen Kabinett” Riesling(Mosel, Germany) $26
15) Dr. H Thanisch 2008 “Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese” Riesling(Mosel, Germany) $30
Riesling options that scored 88 points
1) Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2009 Riesling “Noble House”(Mosel, Germany) $12
2) Red Newt 2009 “Circle” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $12
3) Heinz Eifel 2009 “Spatlese” Riesling(Mosel, Germany) $12
4) Swedish Hill 2008 “Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $16
5) Chateau Ste. Michelle 2008 “Eroica” Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA) $24
The Very Good 87 pointers
1) Kendall Jackson 2008 “Vintners Reserve” Riesling(Monterey County, CA) $12
2) Dr. Loosen 2009 “Dr L” Riesling(Mosel, Germany) $12
3) Next 2008 Riesling (Washington) $12
4) Wagner 2008 “Semi-Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $13
5) Hosmer 2008 Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $13
6) Dr. Konstantin Frank 2009 “Semi Dry” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $15
7) Epiphany 2009 “Dry” Riesling (Santa Barbara County, CA) $16
8) Navarro Vineyards 2008 Riesling (Anderson Valley, CA $18
9) Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2008 “Homestead” Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $18
Good Rieslings that scored 86 points. You’ll really like the prices here.
1) D’Arenberg 2008 “The Stump Jump” Riesling(McLaren Vale, Australia) $10
2) Columbia Crest 2008 “Grand Estates” Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA) $11
3) Hosmer 2008 “Dry Riesling” (Finger Lakes, NY) $12
We hope you find these Rieslings to be as interesting and enjoyable as we did. Have fun exploring over the holidays!
Cheers – Ken