New reasons to love Riesling
Featherstone Black Sheep and Flat Rock’s Nadja’s Vineyard are worldclass whites. But what grape? Riesling. Ontario Riesling.
The latest Riesling wrinkle in Ontario is creating separate lots of Rieslings from different vineyard blocks. For instance, Tawse has Limestone Ridge, Carly’s Block, Quarry Road and Wismer Lakeview.
More than a dozen Niagara Rieslings now are totally stunning. My latest swoon is Thirty Bench 2013 Riesling (see review with bottle). Thirty Bench also has higher-level Rieslings and some of these Small Lot whites are stunners. The winery offers Steel Post, Triangle Vineyard, Wood Post and its brand new off-dry Wild Cask ($30). Some might be sold out. It’s worth checking online.
For contrast, I recommend a comparable Riesling from Washington state. The Ste. Michelle is reasonably priced and, as with Niagara or the Okanagan, grown on lands once given over almost entirely to fruit tree orchards.
We also recommend the beguiling Thornberry Sauvignon Blanc, a classic Kiwi white that trembles with zingy character.
Our two reds are fairly eclectic. The Pendulum Red is from Washington State, like the Ste. Michelle. But it is grown in Walla Walla, a rural and dusty (less than 20 centimetres of rain a year) outpost that produces stunning and very expensive reds. This one is a blend of cab sauvignon, merlot and Syrah with the rare addition of tempranillo. It reminds me of Spain as well as our final top Vintages release selection. The Valdemar is perfect for lamb. At my house, we debone the leg, marinate it for four hours and grill it on the barbecue.
I’m hungry now. Gotta go. stimmell@sympatico.ca