Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhein region of Germany.
This particular wine comes from the nearby Mosel area.
The Peter Mertes Company, based in Bernkastel-Kues, appears to be quite diverse in its wine interests and claims to be Germany's leading winery.
This wine is classified as Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) so is the lowest level of the Gerrman Quality Wine category so can be considered an every day quaffer.
Tasting Notes: Light golden colour. Stone fruit with a slight hint of citrus on the nose. We noticed that Riesling expressed itself this way in Austria. Must be a European climatic influence thing as Riesling in Australia is predominantly citrus especially in the cooler regions.
Despite the low alcohol (11.0%), the wine had good mouth feel, a very slight spritz and reasonable fruit/acid balance. Not a great deal of length however. We found that initially the acidity was dominant but balance improved when the wine was allowed to 'warm up' a little.The back label suggested 12°C. I think we tend to drink white wine too cold in this country (and our reds too warm).
QbA wines are allowed to be chaptalized and one suspects this could be the case here given the high acidity.
Not a stunner, but for $10 a great value summer quaffing wine.
The Reserva classification in Rioja is the second highest tier. The classifications however are not an indication of wine quality, just how they have been aged. Reservas can vary in price from the teens to the hundreds of dollars
This wine was made by Bodegas Isidro Milagro one of the top 10 wineries in Spain. Their winery is in Alfaro, Rioja.
Tasting Notes: Deep ruby red colour. Oakey nose with little fruit apparent. Light to medium-bodied, with some hint of cherries and blackcurrants on the palate but the oakiness dominates. Fine tannins and medium length oaky finish. Passable at the price ($10) but not the best Rioja Reserva I have tasted at similar price levels.
-Kaiora Bay Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014-
I was not able to track down the maker of this wine. Central Otago on the south island of New Zealand is the world's southern-most commercial wine growing region. It is best known for Pinot Noir which accounts for about 70% of the plantings.
Tasting Notes: Dense red colour with just a hint of purple. It is still a young wine. The first thing you notice on the nose is a distinct earthy aroma not the usual strawberry fruit driven one normally associated with the cheaper end of the Pinot market. This complexity follows through on the palate with good fruit, fine tannins and reasonable length. An above average Pinot for this price bracket ($15)
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