Category Archives: Riesling

TASTING: Wente Vineyards, Wine and Music

Posted on August 4, 2013 by The Frugal Wine Snob

On Thursday, August 1st, Karl Wente hosted an interesting Wine and Music tasting, with his friend Shannon Koehler. Besides being a fifth-generation winemaker, Karl is an avid musician. Karl started on saxophone, gravitated to electric guitar, and plays acoustic guitar … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Music, California, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Tastings | 1 Comment

RECOMMENDED: Primal Roots 2011 White Blend, California. 13% ABV, around $10.

Posted on July 15, 2013 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Primal Roots has made a tasty white blend consisting of 50% Viognier, 20% French Colombard, 15% Riesling, and 15% Gewürztraminer. We enjoyed the contrast of its Sauvignon Blanc-like acidity, and its somewhat sweet, Moscato-like floral notes. A hint of cinnamon … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colombard, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Viognier | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED SUMMER WINES: The White Knight

Posted on July 5, 2013 by The Frugal Wine Snob

A division of The Other Guys wine group (Sebastiani family), The White Knight brand’s motto is “Saving the world from the tyranny of Chardonnay!” Cute. After their initial offering of an impressive Viognier, the Knights have expanded into Riesling, Moscato, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Moscato/Muscat, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Riesling, Viognier | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED/HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Madroña Riesling

Posted on July 3, 2013 by The Frugal Wine Snob

2010 Madroña Riesling. El Dorado. 13.5% ABV. About $14. Pretty color; soft gold. Gentle nose; green apple and citrus. Honeysuckle, “petrol,” a hint of yeast, and minerals on the palate. Soft, round, and slightly creamy; gentle acidity. I would pair … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Riesling | 1 Comment

Montinore Estate, Willamette Valley, 8/16/12

Posted on September 8, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

The view from the driveway to Montinore Estate’s winery and tasting room. The Marchesi family’s lovely home. Looks like it’s the Old South, not Oregon! A composite photo of the winery’s entrance. The view from the tasting room. We started … Continue reading →

Posted in Gewurztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Oregon, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Riesling, Tastings, Technical Stuff, Travel | Leave a comment

Catching up on Notes from the Road: Thursday and Friday

Posted on August 19, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Thursday was PACKED with activity: a visit to Montinore Vineyard in the morning with some BEAUTIFUL wines. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED is their Borealis white blend: 38% Riesling, 24% Müller-Thurgau, 23% Pinot Gris, 15% Gewürztraminer. This wine was INTENSELY aromatic and equally flavorful … Continue reading →

Posted in Gewurztraminer, Oregon, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Riesling, Tastings | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Two off-dry summer white wines: The White Knight 2010 Moscato (50% Muscat of Alexandria, 27% Muscat Canelli, 20% Pinot Grigio, 3% Orange Muscat), California, 11.5% ABV, $9.89 ($12.99 SRP). AND The White Knight 2010 Riesling, Lake County, 13.3% ABV, $12.99 SRP

Posted on June 13, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Life is cyclical. Back in 1977 the talk of the day was the coming Ice Age. Today, it’s global warming. Here’s another cycle: dry and sweet wines in America. Prohibition ended in 1933, after a 14-year dry spell that extinguished … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Moscato/Muscat, News, Riesling | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Wente Vineyards Estate Grown, 2009 “Riverbank” Riesling, Arroyo Seco / Monterey. 13% ABV. $11.99, available for as little as $8.95 online.

Posted on May 18, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

APPEARANCE: Pale golden, clear. Still. NOSE: Mild. Melon, a hint of ginger! Later, huge apple aromas. TASTE/MOUTHFEEL: Lychee, melons, slightly sweet. A thread of ale. Oval at first, more vertical later, but beautifully balanced. Honey. Later, more stone—funny! Usually we … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Riesling | 2 Comments

WINE-TASTING: Double Decker brand launch event Monday, April 23. 2010 Pinot Grigio, 2009 Red Blend, 2010 Zinfandel, $9.99 each.

Posted on April 27, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Another online tasting this week … (See the previous post for my write-up of my first experience of this apparent oxymoron.) Monday’s tasting featured a flight of Double Decker wines. For the past 25 years or so, the Wente family … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, News, Petite Sirah, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Riesling, Tastings, Viognier, Zinfandel | 2 Comments

A Tale of Two Rieslings. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: BEX 2010 Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany. Less than $10, 11% ABV. RECOMMENDED: Chateau Ste. Michelle 2010 Riesling, Columbia Valley, WA. 11% ABV.

Posted on January 3, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

When dining out, instead of ordering a bottle of wine, or two glasses of the same wine, I like to create my own flight by ordering glasses of different wines to compare and contrast. This is especially fun when dining … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, Restaurants, Riesling, Tastings, Washington | 1 Comment