Riesling and Gumbo

This is another one of my tasting notes that I should have posted months ago.  I paired a 2009 Whitecliff Vineayrds Riesling with Chicken Gumbo.  Unfortunately, I didn't note the recipe I used, so you can create your own gumbo to pair with.

This 2009 Riesling is aging quite nicely.  Aromas of soft mineral and some hints of smooth petrol with apricot hanging in the back.

The palate had soft acidity with stone fruit and a hint of spice on the end.  There were some lingering soft petrol flavors on the finish as well.

There is a little bit of residual sugar in the Riesling that made it pair very well with the chicken gumo.

A Peach in my Riesling

Peach and apricot are two flavors that at times dominate a Riesling.  This 2010 Whiteceliff Vineyards & Winery Riesling is one of those times.

On the nose I got aromas of stone fruit and sweetness.  How does one smell sweetness, I would define it as sweet ripe fruit.

Time to taste...peach is what stands out as the dominate flavor of this Riesling.  It was a little rough mid palate with a hint of apricot and a fizz on the finish.  The wine did have a touch of sweetness. At least enough for me to recognize that there was some residual sugar in the glass.  Yup 1.5% RS in this Riesling.  Most people might not be able to detect the RS, but I am very sensitive to sugar and can tell right away.

I know you shouldn't compare vintages but I really like the 2009 Riesling better.

RARE VERTICAL TASTING WEEKENDS AT WHITECLIFF VINEYARD

The owners of Whitecliff Vineyard have dug down into their private library of wines that are no longer available for sale in order to offer a vertical tasting over the next two weekends. A “vertical tasting” is wine jargon for a side by side tasting of different vintages of the same wine. It provides a sometimes eye opening glimpse of what aspects of the wine are unique to the grape, and what aspects are shaped by the weather in a given year. It’s a stimulating learning experience that teaches people to pay careful attention to subtle differences. 

They have been inspired to offer vertical tastings to compare 2009 with 2010 because they were such different years in the vineyard—the former cold and wet (remember the ruined tomato crop?), the later particularly hot and dry. Typically, hot, dry weather promotes high sugar, low acidity, and riper fruit flavors in the grapes, and cold, damp weather promotes higher acidity. While most people will likely think “Yum” in response to the first, and NOT to the second, acidity is in fact a key component of great wine. One of the interesting aspects of this tasting will be the opportunity to sample Whitecliff’s 2009 Riesling (a fairly high acid wine), which beat 1300 wines from 27 countries and 28 states to win a Double Gold Medal and Best White Wine in Show at the 2010 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Whitecliff’s Vertical Tasting Weekends will be the July 4^th weekend, July 2^nd through Monday the 4^th, as long as our 2009 supplies last. Visitors will sample 3 of their current 2010 wines—Reserve Chardonnay, Gamay Noir and Riesling—along with the same wines from the previous 2009 vintage. 

Vertical tastings will be available all of each weekend, for either $8.50 a person, or $6.50 with a purchase of wine. Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery is located at 331 McKinstry Road in Gardiner, New York.

Interview with Whitecliff Vineyards Michael Migliore on his 2009 Riesling

On Sunday June 25, Michael Migliore owner and winemaker of Whitecliff Vineyards and Winery got the best Father's Day present - he received a call from Jim Trezise of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation telling him that his 2009 Riesling had won a Double Gold Medal as well as Best White Wine in the San Francisco International Wine Competition.  This wine competition is HUGE.  It has over 3500 entries from more than 21 countries.

Congratulations to Whitecliff - Michael and Yancey Migliore and their winemaking team.

I happen to be at the winery that day and got the opportunity to interview Michael about his win and the wine.

Whitecliff 2009 Riesling

This is a new release from Whitecliff - the 2009 Riesling.  Some if it is estate grown and some of it comes from other regions in New York.  I'd say it is a good sampling of a New York Riesling with an emphasis on estate grown grapes.  A winemakers' note - the grapes were high in acid when harvested.

The wine is rated a high medium dry based on the International Riesling Profile set forth by the International Riesling Foundation.  Layman terms - about 1%  - 1.5% residual sugar.

I tasted this wine twice - once in the  tasting room and once at home with my husband with my purchase. The taste was consistent.  The wine had peach on the bouquet with a hint of lime. It had  an overall nice balance and mouth feel.

A first the wine had a slight mineral taste on the finish. However, once the wine opened up, there was actually a bit of acid left behind on the after taste on the roof of your palate.

This wine will go very well with Asian dishes or a dish with as light spice.  

Curry Cod with Whitecliff Riesling

I am so lucky to be friends with a wonderful Chef.  Chef Debbie has been visiting the area since mid February from Tampa Florida. She's enrolled in boot camp courses at the Culinary Institute of America.  She often needs a test kitchen and subjects to try her creations and we are the lucky ones!

This weekend she created an Eggplant stuffed with ricotta and grains along with Pistachio Curried Cod, Forbidden Rice and Sauteed Spinach.  I never heard of Forbidden Rice before, but what a beautiful deep red color it was.

What wine to serve with these dishes and a Riesling was the thought for the fish pairing.  Hoping I had one on ice, I found a 2008 Whitecliff Riesling in the fridge. This Riesling I think is at its peak.  It can be described in one word - Apricot.  Apricot all the way through.  On the nose and on the taste.  Not much acidity and very smooth. This was not a dry Riesling as there was a hint of residual sugar.  If I had a guess I would say 1% - so it would be in semi-dry category, which was luck for us, as the only other choice in the fridge were a Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

This wine paired very well with the Pistachio Curried Cod as it cut the spice of the curry with the semi sweet apricot. I am going to try my best at a future date to duplicate this dish. Most likely won't come out as good as Debbie's but we'll give it a try.

Don't think we didn't have a wine to pair with the Eggplant.  Yes, we had a Tolosa Winery 2002 Pinot Noir.  This wine was very good!  We had purchased it a while back on a trip to San Louis Obispo.  With a fantastic Chef we had fantastic wine.

I cleared off the dining room table and we sat and had a wonderful dinner with Debbie.  Thank you Debbie!