The Bubbling Under Rieslings

By / Wine + Drinks / April 9th, 2014 / 4

Just recently I had the opportunity to taste over 80 Rieslings from across Canada for an upcoming article in Quench magazine … and I can tell you this: there are a lot of passionate folks making a lot of great Riesling here in Canada.

Then I got word that we could only include the top 20 Rieslings in the piece and my heart sank … I had tried so many wonderful wines and had so many great notes that paring it down to 20 seemed an injustice.

So with that in mind, and knowing I could fill this column 20 times over with Riesling reviews, I give you the ones that just missed the cut (call it the “bubbling under 4” and a sweetie)

Thirty Bench 2012 Steel Post Riesling, Ontario ($30.00)

Mac apple and peach pit aromas; hints of green apple across the palate with mineral and citrus pith on the finish.

8th Generation 2012 Riesling Classic, British Columbia (20.90)

This is what you call bone dry … you won’t find too much fruit but you will find lots and lots of mineral chalkiness with a lemon seed-like backing.

Rockway Vineyards 2012 Fergie Jenkins Series Riesling, Ontario ($14.95)

Apple and lemon drop with nice acidity, hints of honey, lemon and lime cordial all with a nice long finish.

CedarCreek 2012 Riesling, British Columbia ($17.95)

This one comes off as simple, but don’t let it fool you, it’s incredibly tasty with lime and lovely acidity.

Fielding 2012 Icewine Riesling, Ontario ($32.95 / 200ml)

Sweet pear, apple and wildflower honey and lavender and spiced baked apple delicate, and that’s just the aroma, palate is delicious with a nice balance of sweetness to acidity.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

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