Chateau St. Michelle Riesling Eroica 2006 – Washington

This is the product of a joint venture between Washington’s Chateau St. Michelle and Germany’s Dr. Loosen wineries. This particular bottle showed to us what a difference a vintage can make. We hadn’t had this wine in a couple of years, but had previously thought of it almost as Tokaji-like, with a wonderful balance of sweetness and acid. Now, however, this time around we’re less impressed. The wine starts with a floral, citrus, and honey nose, and the tastes come on as kiwi, honey, grapefruit, and pineapple. It’s probably that grapefruit tinge that takes it down several notches from our previous memories of other vintages. Yes (if future tastings reveal more of the “older” style), or Maybe (if they are like this bottle). About $25

Clean Slate Riesling & Wontons & Cherries Jubilee

On July 25, 2007
WINE
Clean Slate Riesling 2006 (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany)
We first found Clean Slate in Vermont nearly a year ago, but hadn’t seen it since. This wonderful and wonderfully affordable German Riesling has a grassy, grapefruit nose, with tastes of lemon and orange. It has that classic European balance of minerals and acid to go with the delicate fruit flavors. A House wine. $9.

DINNER
Wednesday Night Dinners
The recipe pick was for a dessert (unusual for us), Cherries Jubilee Crepes. We made some simple veggie wontons as a first course, and the dessert was really the meal for us.