It’s interesting to me to see how local wine stores differ, since they reflect the tastes and personality of the store owner. Normally I go to the wine shop about a mile from my house, which has a great selection. I have gotten to know the people there, and have gotten used to seeing the bottles they stock on their shelves. This week I changed it up a bit, dropping by a place next to a Chinese restaurant where I was picking up dinner, and there were all kinds of new bottles I hadn’t seen before, including this week’s featured wine, the 2012 Stone Fruit Riesling.
Regular readers of this blog know I tend toward red wine, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good Riesling every now and then, and this is a very good Riesling. The 2012 Stone Fruit is imported from Germany (Pfalz), and won a silver medal and “Best Buy” designation at the World Wine Championships this year. Taste it and you’ll see why: this is a very refreshing white wine, with a tangy acidity that is sweet without being overbearing. It’s got a beautiful golden straw color, with nice aromas of melon and honey, and tastes like green apple and mild lemon.
This Riesling strikes a nice balance between tart and sweet, with a mild citrus finish. I liked it a lot, and that’s saying something for this red wine drinker. It paired quite nicely with our Chinese dinner, by the way.
On my five cork scale based on taste and value, I give the 2012 Stone Fruit Riesling 3.5 corks! Find it for around $10 a bottle, and serve chilled.
