It’s time once again for Wine Blogging Wednesday and the host this month is Tim at Winecast. For those stumbling upon this who don’t know what Wine Blogging Wednesday is, it’s a monthly event when wine bloggers from around the globe all write about a common topic. The theme this month, for WBW #45, is Old World Riesling.
With Old World Riesling as the theme, you can check out about 50 other wine blogs today and discover a wide breadth of European Rieslings. Some reviewers will feature sweet Rieslings and others, like me, will highlight the dry ones.
Remember that syrupy-sweet stuff you were served the last time you had Riesling (the time when you declared that you don’t like Riesling because it’s too sweet), forget about that. Dry Riesling is delightful and is typically dominated with mineral and citrus flavors. Some of the German ones may also have a petroleum characteristic to them.
The Riesling I chose to review is Kuentz-Bas Tradition from the Alsace region on the eastern border of France. This is a region well known for its white wines, Gewürztraminer and Riesling in particular. Kuentz-Bas has been producing wines in this region since 1795, so I guess you could say they have a bit of experience.
Kuentz-Bas Tradition 2005
I am pleasantly surprised by the intensity of the nose of this wine. It’s not overbearing, but it’s more intense than I expected. Honeydew melon and floral notes are the dominant aromas, but there is also a bit of mineral smell like the wet rocks from a crisp, clean mountain stream. That mineral aspect dominates the palate. It is like pulling one of those rocks from the stream and sucking on it. Picture one of those well-worn, rounded, granite-based rocks. There is also a good amount of lime flavor mid-palate with a crisp acidity. The finish brings a subtle pineapple flavor to the tongue. It’s a long finish too—I can walk away from this for a few minutes and I’m still enjoying the aftertaste.
This is a great example of a dry, old world Riesling at a decent price, $14.99. If you’re someone who has always avoided Riesling because you think it’s too sweet, I suggest you give this one a try.
Wine: Kuentz-Bas Tradition
Varietal: Riesling
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 89
Price Paid: $14.99
Between Brooklynguy, Rockss and Fruit and now you, I’ve been reading an awful lot about Kuentz-Bas lately. Between your description and the wine’s daily price point, I’ll really need to seek some out.
Thanks for your post. I, too, will be checking out Kuentz-Bas in the near future.
Cheers,
—
Tim Elliott
Winecast
Sounds like you had as much fun with your Riesling as I did on this Wine Blogging Wednesday!
Rieslings really do run the gamut. The Rieslings from Austria are simply wonderful, also! Difficult to come by in the US, but well worth the effort.
Denise
There are some excellent, moderately priced dry rieslings from Australia and New Zealand. From New Zealand, I haven’t had one yet that wasn’t bone dry. From Australia, you have to be a bit more choosy whether you are getting dry or off dry. But there is excellent value to be had.
Thanks for the comment. I haven’t had any Australian or New Zealand Riesling, but I’ll have to keep an eye out for it. I expect we’ll do a series on Riesling sometime in the next few months.
And where are the postings for those
sweet Rieslings you refer to that my wife so enjoys?
I bought a full case of the Kuentz-Bas Tradition Riesling (2010) from the Montreuil warehouse of the Wine Society in 2012 and, having tried the first bottle immediately, decided to leave it a few years as recommended on the label. It is now one of the finest rieslings I have ever enjoyed (without breaking the bank) but there does not seem to be any of this vintage available today … I only wish I had bought several cases!
Francis