Black Tower Rivaner

Black Tower Rivaner has a smooth mellow attitude with a simple flavor that is slightly sweet and a little bit fruity. The aromas give just a hint of flowers and licorice. It is a pleasant wine to drink  glass or two with a meal or on its own. However, its simplicity may leave you wanting something more after awhile.


Varietal:   Rivaner (aka Müller-Thurgau)     

Producer/Importer:  Reh Kendermann Black Tower

Region: Rheinhessen Germany

Vintage: 2008

Price: $6-11

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): pale gold

Smell (bouquet, aroma): flowers and licorice

Taste (acidity, balance, body): medium dry, moderately acidic. lightly fruity.

Bottle presentation: Black bottle. Label has an old world German font. Natural Cork.

Label description: "Black Tower Rivaner is a deliciously smooth wine full of fresh fruit flavours of pineapple and ripe mango. Wonderfully easy to drink, it is equally enjoyable served chilled, on its own, or with a variety of food – any time, any occasion.Works well with spicy chicken tacos or sweet pork and chili stir fry."
Comparisons: Like the Liebfraumilch, but fuller bodied.  Similar to a typical for a Rhein wine. 

Overall rating (1-10):  7.5

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: Comes in a box too!
Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape created in 1882 by Hermann Muller from the Swiss canton of  Thurgau. It is a hybrid of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. Müller-Thurgau is also known as Rivaner (Austria, Germany, and Luxemburg), Riesling-Sylvaner (Switzerland), Johannisberg (Wallis canton in Switzerland) and Rizlingszilváni (Hungary).

Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling

Pacific Rim specializes in Rieslings (90% of wines produced).  The Riesling is the winemakers favorite for its versatility-that is a simple grape can be transformed in a million different expressions.  Pacific Rim's Sweet Riesling is a delightful refreshing Riesling from Columbia Valley.  The grapes used are slightly more ripe than what is used for a drier Riesling.  Steel tanks are used for the fermenting to allow the true Riesling flavors to come forward. The label calls this a medium sweet, but I think it lingers more toward a sweet wine. The result is intensely sweet to start but quickly balances.  As the wine develops in your mouth the flavors of crisp pear dance on the tongue with just the touch of the bubbly.  The wine finishes with the sweetness of pineapples and a little tartness of lemons.   

Varietal:    Riesling    

Producer/Importer:  Pacific Rim

Region: Columbia Valley

Vintage: 2009

Price: $10.00

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden

Smell (bouquet, aroma): Sugary breeze

Taste (acidity, balance, body): Very sweet initially.  The middle has a crisp pear flavor. It finishes with pineapple and lemon.

Bottle presentation: Clear bottle with and oriental flare on the label. Screw cap.

Label description:"The wine is moderately sweet and refreshingly low in alcohol — less than 9% — with flavors of pineapple and peach. Our Sweet Riesling brings perfect balance to all fiery fare — especially Thai, Szechwan and Caribbean cuisine... or simply enjoy as an aperitif. "

Comparisons:

Overall rating (1-10): 8

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: Low in Alcohol (Alc9%) 

Other label info: Residual Sugar 8.4%  pH: 2.97  TA: 0.78

http://rieslingrules.com/