{"id":57,"date":"2009-08-30T12:19:25","date_gmt":"2009-08-30T12:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=57"},"modified":"2009-09-08T02:06:32","modified_gmt":"2009-09-08T02:06:32","slug":"yummy-riesling-and-dessert-wines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=57","title":{"rendered":"Yummy Riesling and Dessert Wines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Riesling_Grapes.gif\" alt=\"Riesling grapes\" align=\"right\" height=\"200\" width=\"111\" \/>Riesling<\/strong> is the noble grape that probably has received the least amount of attention in the past. That may be changing.\u00c2\u00a0 Exposure to this grape is growing and with regions like the Finger Lakes now making world class Riesling, more and more\u00c2\u00a0North Americans are getting exposure to this fantastic grape varietal.\u00c2\u00a0 Most of the wines recommended in this summary are from Germany\u201d\u201donly because I covered most of the current <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=48\" title=\"Finger Lakes Riesling Reviews\"><strong>Finger Lakes Rieslings<\/strong> <\/a>earlier this year.\u00c2\u00a0 In the second half of this report, I will tackle <strong>dessert wines<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 These dessert wines are delicious treats to be enjoyed after your meals this fall and through the holiday season.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Vineyard.jpg\" alt=\"Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Vineyard\" align=\"left\" height=\"228\" width=\"170\" \/>My first observation is that if you find a <strong>2007 Riesling<\/strong> from the <strong>Wehlener Sonnenuhr (VAY-len-er Zon-en-ooer) Vineyard<\/strong> you probably can&apos;t go wrong.\u00c2\u00a0 <strong>Four of our top ten<\/strong> Riesling recommendations that scored over <strong>90 points<\/strong> came from this vineyard-including our top pick!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\" align=\"right\" height=\"164\" width=\"180\" \/>That top pick was the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\">2007 Dr. Loosen \u201cWehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> Riesling for $32.\u00c2\u00a0 This was our favorite Riesling covered this summer.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this Riesling <strong>92 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 The downside is that Dr. Loosen only produced 400 cases of this special wine from the steep, rocky, and blue slate soils of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard.\u00c2\u00a0 This Riesling is full-bodied, well balanced, and very creamy.\u00c2\u00a0 It displays a delicious blend of apricot and pineapple flavors.\u00c2\u00a0 It finishes nicely sweet and is quite refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 Our panel felt this wine would be perfect with melon wrapped in prociutto.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Brauneberger_Juffer_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Brauneberger_Juffer_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\" align=\"left\" height=\"134\" width=\"180\" \/>Our second place wine is really wine 1A as it also scored <strong>92 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 It was the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Brauneberger_Juffer_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Brauneberger_Juffer_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\">2007 Dr. H. Thanisch \u201cBrauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 The only reason I placed this wine second on the list is because it came from a different vineyard other than Wehlener.\u00c2\u00a0 This offering costs <strong>$30<\/strong> and it is also is very limited in that only 400 cases were made.\u00c2\u00a0 This Spatlese level Riesling won its blind tasting flight and as I mentioned it tied for 1st place overall.\u00c2\u00a0 On the palate it is full-bodied, very nicely balanced, complex, and really smooth.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is an incredibly tasty ripe green apple with a touch of sweet lemon.\u00c2\u00a0 We also detected a hint of minerality as well.\u00c2\u00a0 The finish is extremely refreshing and it is also very easy to drink and enjoy.\u00c2\u00a0 We felt this Riesling would pair nicely with grilled shrimp with a pineapple salsa.\u00c2\u00a0 We also think this wine might be a wonderful option to pair with your turkey on Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n<p>Next up is a slew of Rieslings that we scored <strong>90 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 The first 3 are from <strong>Wehlener Sonnenuhr<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Notice the different profiles, given the same vintage and the same vineyard.\u00c2\u00a0 It just goes to show you that different wines and different styles can be produced from the same vineyard in the same year.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Kabinett_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Kabinett_Riesling\" align=\"right\" height=\"165\" width=\"180\" \/>Our first selection is the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Kabinett_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Kabinett_Riesling\">2007 Dr. Loosen\u00c2\u00a0\u201cWehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$26<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This limited production wine was very well received by our panel.\u00c2\u00a0 There were only 200 cases of this lovely wine produced.\u00c2\u00a0 On the palate, this wine is full-bodied, balanced, and viscous.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is a tasty blend of ripe green apple and sweet peach with a touch of minerality and honey on the back end.\u00c2\u00a0 It was very refreshing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/SA%20Prum%202007%20Wehlener%20Sonnenuhr%20Kabinett%20Riesling.gif\" alt=\"SA_Prum_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Kabinett_Riesling\" align=\"left\" height=\"119\" width=\"180\" \/>Next up I chose the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?wine=4231\" title=\"2007 SA Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling\">2007 S.A. Prum \u201cWehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$25<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This offering is medium-bodied, shows nice viscosity, and sweetness with its lemon tea flavors.\u00c2\u00a0 It was nicely balanced between its fruit and sugars.\u00c2\u00a0 Again, like the Loosen it is nicely refreshing and would make a perfect pool wine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\" align=\"right\" height=\"172\" width=\"180\" \/>We conclude the Wehlener Sonnenuhr parade with the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Spatlese_Riesling\">2007 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler \u201cWehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$33<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This offering was full-boded, viscous, creamy, and nicely sweet.\u00c2\u00a0 It displayed mild lemon flavors with a touch of apricot and pineapple.\u00c2\u00a0 There was a drop of honey mixed in as well.\u00c2\u00a0 This Spatlese is very food-friendly and would be a wonderful choice with a roasted pork and apple compote.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Urziger_Wurzgarten_Spatlese_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Urziger_Wurzgarten_Spatlese_Riesling\" align=\"left\" height=\"165\" width=\"180\" \/>Next up, Dr. Loosen returns to the recommended list with their <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Urziger_Wurzgarten_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Urziger_Wurzgarten_Spatlese_Riesling\">2007 \u201cUrziger Wurzgarten Spatlese\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$32<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 It was also very well received by our recent tasting panel.\u00c2\u00a0 It is full-bodied, balanced, and slightly viscous with a touch of fizz.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is a light lemon tea and orange with some infused minerality.\u00c2\u00a0 The panel felt that this wine would be a perfect option with peach glazed pork smothered in caramelized onion or bacon wrapped shrimp.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Bernkasteler_Badstube_Kabinett_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Bernkasteler_Badstube_Kabinett_Riesling\" align=\"right\" height=\"122\" width=\"180\" \/>Finally our last 2007 vintage <strong>90 pointer<\/strong> comes from <strong>Dr. H. Thanisch<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Their <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Bernkasteler_Badstube_Kabinett_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Bernkasteler_Badstube_Kabinett_Riesling\">2007 \u201cBernkasteler Badstube Kabinett\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> opens with a very attractive ripe pear like bouquet with hints of light apricots and bananas.\u00c2\u00a0 Once invited in by its attractive bouquet, you will find a full-bodied and viscous Riesling that displays a very tasty iced tea flavored wine with notes of lemon and apricot.\u00c2\u00a0 It was delicately sweet and very refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 We felt it would be a perfect sipper for a hot summer day.<\/p>\n<p>The next 3 wines are from the <strong>2008 vintage<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 I call them my early risers.\u00c2\u00a0 The first two are also great deals.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Ad_Lib_2008_Wallflower_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Ad_Lib_2008_Wallflower_Riesling\" align=\"left\" height=\"400\" width=\"97\" \/>The <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Ad_Lib_2008_Wallflower_Riesling\" title=\"Ad_Lib_2008_Wallflower_Riesling\">2008 Ad Lib \u201cWallflower\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$17<\/strong> came from down under.\u00c2\u00a0 Mt. Barker in Australia to be exact.\u00c2\u00a0 This was our favorite \u201cDry\u201d\u009d Riesling in our recent mini tasting of dry styled Rieslings.\u00c2\u00a0 It was medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and very easy to drink.\u00c2\u00a0 Its flavor profile was a mineral infused light lime.\u00c2\u00a0 The finish was rather dry and refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 We found this Riesling to be very versatile and food friendly.\u00c2\u00a0 It will pair particularly well with bacon wrapped shrimp or scallops.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this dry Riesling <strong>90 points<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/St_Urbans_Hof_2008_QbA_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"St_Urbans_Hof_2008_QbA_Riesling\" align=\"right\" height=\"400\" width=\"85\" \/>Next up was the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Riesling_QbA\" title=\"St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Riesling_QbA\">2008 St. Urbans Hof 2008 \u201cQbA\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$17<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 There are tons of this wine available as there were <strong>14,000 cases<\/strong> made and it should be very easy to find.\u00c2\u00a0 Since we scored this wine <strong>90 points<\/strong>, you will find it to be quite a bargain.\u00c2\u00a0 This offering is a tad sweeter than the most of the Kabinetts.\u00c2\u00a0 However, it was the consensus winner in a mini flight of mostly QbA level Rieslings.\u00c2\u00a0 Its flavor profile is a blend of light lime and green apple with a touch of minerality gently infused.\u00c2\u00a0 The finish is delicately sweet and very refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 This is a pleasant food friendly Riesling that would be perfect in the summer and served with grilled scallops.<\/p>\n<p>Also from <strong>St. Urbans Hof<\/strong> we recommend the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Piesporter_Goldtropfchen_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Piesporter_Goldtropfchen_Spatlese_Riesling\">2008 \u201cPiesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese\u201d\u009d Riesling<\/a><\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Like the QbA we scored this wine <strong>90 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This Spatlese is medium-bodied and shows crispy acidity.\u00c2\u00a0 Its flavor profile initially was a vibrant tart lime with complex notes of tangerine, peach, and pineapple.\u00c2\u00a0 With some air and time it went on to reveal some mangos and it improved its balance.\u00c2\u00a0 The finish was refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 We think this very young Riesling will definitely evolve and get much better with time due to its complexity and how it evolved and improved on day number two.\u00c2\u00a0 Finally we felt this Riesling would pair nicely with spring rolls or bacon wrapped scallops at your pool party this summer if you plan to have it in the short term.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Konstantin_Frank_2008_Dry_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Konstantin_Frank_2008_Dry_Riesling\" align=\"left\" height=\"256\" width=\"180\" \/>Finally, our last highlighted Riesling comes from <strong>Dr. Konstantin Frank<\/strong> in the Finger Lakes.\u00c2\u00a0 His <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Konstantin_Frank_2008_Dry_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Konstantin_Frank_2008_Dry_Riesling\">2008 \u201cDry Riesling\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> was our second favorite \u201c<strong>Dry Riesling<\/strong>\u201d\u009d and we scored it Very Good and awarded it <strong>89 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 It is light-bodied, balanced, and has a rather dry mouthfeel.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is a mineral infused grapefruit and apricot with a hint of lime.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other Recommended Rieslings<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>12) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Bernkasteler_Graben_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Bernkasteler_Graben_Spatlese_Riesling\"><strong>Dr. H Thanisch 2007 Riesling \u201cBernkasteler Graben Spatlese\u201d\u009d<\/strong> <\/a><strong>$30<\/strong> (<strong>89<\/strong>)<br \/>\n13) <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Bernkasteler_Badstude_Kabinett_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Bernkasteler_Badstude_Kabinett_Riesling\">Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2007 Riesling &#8220;Bernkasteler Badstude Kabinett&#8221;<\/a><\/strong> <strong>$23<\/strong> (<strong>89<\/strong>)<br \/>\n14) <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Studert_Prum_2007_Graacher_Himmelreich_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"Studert_Prum_2007_Graacher_Himmelreich_Spatlese_Riesling\">Studert Prum 2007 Riesling \u201cGraacher Himmelreich Spatlese\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> <strong>$25<\/strong> (<strong>88<\/strong>)<br \/>\n15) <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Ockfener_Bockstein_Kabinett_Riesling\" title=\"St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Ockfener_Bockstein_Kabinett_Riesling\">St. Urbans Hof 2008 Riesling \u201cOckfener Bockstein Kabinett\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> <strong>$20<\/strong> (<strong>88<\/strong>)<br \/>\n16) <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Ockfener_Bockstein_Spatlese_Riesling\" title=\"St_Urbans_Hof_2008_Ockfener_Bockstein_Spatlese_Riesling\">St. Urbans Hof 2008 Riesling \u201cOckfener Bockstein Spatlese\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> <strong>$24<\/strong> (<strong>88<\/strong>)<br \/>\n17) <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Georg_Albrecht_Schneider_2007_Niersteiner_Paterberg_Riesling\" title=\"Georg_Albrecht_Schneider_2007_Niersteiner_Paterberg_Riesling\">Georg Albrecht Schneider 2007 Riesling \u201cNiersteiner Paterberg\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> <strong>$15<\/strong> (<strong>88<\/strong>)<br \/>\n18) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Berncasteler_Doctor_Kabinett_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_H_Thanisch_2007_Berncasteler_Doctor_Kabinett_Riesling\"><strong>Dr. H. Thanisch 2007 Riesling \u201cBerncasteler Doctor Kabinett\u201d\u009d<\/strong><\/a> <strong>$39<\/strong> (<strong>88<\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dessert Wine Recommendations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>We love the Riesling tasting every year.\u00c2\u00a0 Those of you who love sweet wines, really love sweet wines.\u00c2\u00a0 <strong>This year&apos;s selections of recommended dessert offerings are exceptional.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 You will find some of the wines near the top to be a bit pricy.\u00c2\u00a0 However, I would say that they are worth it.\u00c2\u00a0 There is no better way to finish your dinner than with one of these dessert wines.\u00c2\u00a0 Sweets for your sweetie as they say.\u00c2\u00a0 So let&apos;s get started.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Inniskillin_2007_Riesling_Ice_Wine.gif\" alt=\"Inniskillin_2007_Riesling_Ice_Wine\" align=\"right\" height=\"400\" width=\"159\" \/>Our favorite dessert wine was one of the three exceptional Ice Wines that we recommended from <strong>Inniskillin<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Their <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Inniskillin_2007_Riesling_Ice_Wine\" title=\"Inniskillin_2007_Riesling_Ice_Wine\"><strong>2007 \u201cRiesling IceWine\u201d\u009d<\/strong><\/a> for <strong>$75<\/strong> was terrific.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored it <strong>Very Good+<\/strong> and gave it <strong>92 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This offering from the Niagara Peninsula in Canada is golden colored, full bodied, nicely balanced, and displays a silky syrup like mouthfeel.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is a very ripe apricot and tangerine blend which one panelist described as sweet, but not too sweet.\u00c2\u00a0 It&apos;s harmonious.\u00c2\u00a0 The panel felt this tasty dessert wine would pair nicely with green apples and sharp cheese or simply on its own for dessert.\u00c2\u00a0 Next up is its big brother.\u00c2\u00a0 The <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Inniskillin_2007_Cabernet_Franc_Ice_Wine\" title=\"Inniskillin_2007_Cabernet_Franc_Ice_Wine\">2007 Inniskillin \u201cCabernet Franc IceWine\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$95<\/strong> was a new one for me and the panel.\u00c2\u00a0 However, what an impression it made in our recent dessert wine blind tasting.\u00c2\u00a0 It opens with a fragrant raspberry jam like bouquet with a hint of licorice mixed in.\u00c2\u00a0 On the palate, this offering is full-bodied, viscous, and creamy.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is a very sweet and tasty black raspberry with hints of honey and apricots.\u00c2\u00a0 This delicious Ice Wine was my favorite and we would pair this gem with dark chocolate covered strawberries.\u00c2\u00a0 This offering also scored <strong>92 points.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/St_Supery_2008_Muscato.gif\" alt=\"St_Supery_2008_Muscato\" align=\"left\" height=\"157\" width=\"180\" \/>On my trip to the WBC this summer, I came across a very tasty Moscato which was the highest scoring Dessert wine on the trip.\u00c2\u00a0 This wine was the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/St_Supery_2008_Moscato\" title=\"St_Supery_2008_Moscato\"><strong>2008 St. Supery &#8220;Moscato&#8221;.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/a>It was full bodied, balanced, and shows a reasonable level of sweetness.\u00c2\u00a0 The flavor profile is a delicious blend of tangerine and peach with a hint of apricot. It\u00c2\u00a0paired perfectly with our peach cobbler.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this wine <strong>92 points<\/strong> and for <strong>$23<\/strong> it is a steal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese_Riesling.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese_Riesling\" align=\"right\" height=\"163\" width=\"180\" \/>Next up is the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese_Riesling\" title=\"Dr_Loosen_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese_Riesling\">2007 Dr Loosen \u201cWehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$42<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Based upon what we said above, it is\u00c2\u00a0 not a big surprise that this wine from this vineyard produced a winning dessert wine.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this wine <strong>Very Good+<\/strong> and gave it <strong>91 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This viscous offering has a flavor profile of tangy lemon flavored iced tea with notes of apricot.\u00c2\u00a0 The finish is pleasantly sweet and very nicely refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 It would be a very nice wine to finish off your special meal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Standing%20Stone%202007%20Vidal%20Ice.gif\" alt=\"Standing Stone 2007 Vidal Ice\" align=\"left\" height=\"375\" width=\"71\" \/>One of my favorite dessert wines each year is the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?wine=4385\" title=\"2007 Standing Stone Vidal Ice\"><strong>Standing Stone \u201cVidal Ice.\u201d\u009d<\/strong><\/a>\u00c2\u00a0 The <strong>2007<\/strong> vintage was a winner again.\u00c2\u00a0 It is also an exceptional bargain.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this wine <strong>91 points<\/strong> and for <strong>$20<\/strong> it&apos;s a steal.\u00c2\u00a0 What you may not know is <strong>Vidal Blanc<\/strong> makes incredible Ice Wine.\u00c2\u00a0 This one is full-bodied, rich, creamy, and balanced with delicious sweet apricot flavors.\u00c2\u00a0 This wine is special and you should order a bottle soon to serve over the holidays.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Kanu_2005_Kia_Ora_Noble_Late_Harvest.gif\" alt=\"Kanu_2005_Kia_Ora\" align=\"right\" height=\"174\" width=\"180\" \/>Our next recommendation comes from <strong>South Africa<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 The <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kanu_2005_Kia_Ora\" title=\"Kanu_2005_Kia_Ora\">2005 Kanu \u201cKia-Ora Noble Late Harvest\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$22<\/strong> is made from mostly Chenin Blanc.\u00c2\u00a0 We awarded this wine <strong>90 points<\/strong> and like the Standing Stone it is a really good value.\u00c2\u00a0 This full-bodied and viscous dessert wine displays a sweet dark rum and ripe pear like flavor profile that the panel felt would be a perfect match for pecan pie.\u00c2\u00a0 You should get a bottle of this for Thanksgiving to go with the pie.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Jackson_Triggs_2007_Vidal_Icewine.gif\" alt=\"Jackson_Triggs_2007_Vidal_Icewine\" align=\"left\" height=\"153\" width=\"180\" \/>The next 2 options are both made from <strong>Vidal Blanc<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Both wines scored 90 points from our panel.\u00c2\u00a0 First up is the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Jackson_Triggs_2007_Vidal_Icewine\" title=\"Jackson_Triggs_2007_Vidal_Icewine\">2007 Jackson Triggs \u201cVidal Icewine.\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This wine is only <strong>$25<\/strong> for <strong>187 ml<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 You should be able to find it as <strong>8,000 cases<\/strong> were made.\u00c2\u00a0 It is full-bodied, balanced, and concentrated.\u00c2\u00a0 It shows off very ripe apricot flavors with notes of sweet honey and spice.\u00c2\u00a0 One panelist summed up this wine as a terrific dessert wine to have as dessert.\u00c2\u00a0 That says it all.\u00c2\u00a0 Next up is the <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Inniskillin_2006_Vidal_Gold\" title=\"Inniskillin_2006_Vidal_Gold\">2006 Inniskillin 2006 \u201cVidal Gold IceWine.\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This one costs quite a bit more at <strong>$75<\/strong> for <strong>375 ml<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 It is silky and well balanced.\u00c2\u00a0 Its shows delicious concentrated ripe apricot flavor profile that explodes in the mouth.\u00c2\u00a0 I loved it.\u00c2\u00a0 However, it was a bit sweet for a couple of the panelists.\u00c2\u00a0 If you love classic Vidal Ice Wine, this one is for you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese.gif\" alt=\"Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese\" align=\"right\" height=\"162\" width=\"180\" \/>Our next wine is again from Wehlener Sonnenuhr.\u00c2\u00a0 The <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese\" title=\"Dr_Pauly_Bergweiler_2007_Wehlener_Sonnenuhr_Auslese\">2007 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler \u201cWehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese\u201d\u009d<\/a><\/strong> for <strong>$45<\/strong> is also Very Good.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this wine <strong>89 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This viscous dessert wine displays a mineral infused lime flavor profile with a touch of peach detected as well.\u00c2\u00a0 The finish is pleasantly sweet and refreshing.\u00c2\u00a0 We would pair it with chicken cordon bleu.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Warre%20Otima%2020%20Year%20Old%20Port.gif\" alt=\"Warre Otima 20 Year Old Tawny Port\" align=\"left\" height=\"400\" width=\"90\" \/>Lastly, I am going to do something I never really do.\u00c2\u00a0 I am going to highly recommend 2 Port wines.\u00c2\u00a0 To give you a little history why I do not usually go down this path is a short story.\u00c2\u00a0 To me, most <strong>Port<\/strong> wines display too much alcohol and are more like liquor than wine.\u00c2\u00a0 I like wine for its food friendliness and enjoyment.\u00c2\u00a0 Most Ports to me are hard to pair with food and very difficult for me to enjoy.\u00c2\u00a0 However, this year I found a couple options that defy this premise and therefore will get highly recommended.<\/p>\n<p>The first is the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?wine=4302\" title=\"Warre Otima 20 Year Old Tawny Port\"><strong>Warre&apos;s Non Vintage \u201cOtima 20 Twenty Year Old Tawny Port\u201d\u009d<\/strong><\/a> for <strong>$45<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Our mini panel scored this wine Very Good+ and gave it <strong>91 points<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 The Port lovers on the panel would have probably scored it higher.\u00c2\u00a0 I have to say that this Port does a very nice job of keeping its 20% alcohol level in check.\u00c2\u00a0 It was medium-bodied, smooth, and very enjoyable.\u00c2\u00a0 It displays a light nutty flavor with notes of pecan pie.\u00c2\u00a0 There was just a little bit of heat in the end.\u00c2\u00a0 But I definitely felt that this was a Port that most readers could enjoy with friends after dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 I was impressed!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\" border=\"1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/images_wine\/Four%20Vines%202005%20Zinfandel%20Port.gif\" alt=\"Four Vines 2005 Zinfandel Port\" align=\"right\" height=\"400\" width=\"78\" \/>Our last wine is what I call my challenge wine for 2009.\u00c2\u00a0 As mentioned above, I usually have to be coerced into trying most Ports.\u00c2\u00a0 So that is what happened.\u00c2\u00a0 Billy Grant from <strong>Four Vines<\/strong> coerced and convinced me to give his <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?wine=4241\" title=\"Four Vines 2005 Zinfandel Port\">2005 Zinfandel Port<\/a><\/strong> a whirl.\u00c2\u00a0 I reluctantly tried it and let me tell you, I was quite impressed.\u00c2\u00a0 This gem is full-bodied, quite smooth, and balanced.\u00c2\u00a0 It is rich and concentrated with beautiful sweet ripe red raspberry flavors with a hint of raisin on the back palate.\u00c2\u00a0 This is one of the best Zinfandel ports I have ever tried.\u00c2\u00a0 I have since tried a few others which have come nowhere close to this wine.\u00c2\u00a0 As a matter of fact, none of them qualified.\u00c2\u00a0 So if you like Zin Port, this is a perfect wine to serve with dark chocolate covered strawberries.\u00c2\u00a0 Grab some quick, because at <strong>$23 per bottle<\/strong> this wine is a steal.\u00c2\u00a0 We scored this wine <strong>93 points<\/strong> and look forward to trying the 2006 vintage.<\/p>\n<p>That wraps up this year&apos;s <strong>Riesling<\/strong> and <strong>Dessert<\/strong> wine results.\u00c2\u00a0 We hope over the next few months you get to try some of these gems.\u00c2\u00a0 We had a fun time covering these sweeties.\u00c2\u00a0 If for some reason you can&apos;t find any of these specific brands, I feel very confident in saying that if you find any <strong>2007 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling<\/strong>, you are likely in for a treat.\u00c2\u00a0 Cheers &#8211; Ken<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Riesling is the noble grape that probably has received the least amount of attention in the past. That may be changing.\u00c2\u00a0 Exposure to this grape is growing and with regions like the Finger Lakes now making world class Riesling, more and more\u00c2\u00a0North Americans are getting exposure to this fantastic grape varietal.\u00c2\u00a0 Most of the wines [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,11,112,111,21,82,20,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dessert-wine","category-kens-wine-guide-tasting-panel","category-late-harvest","category-port","category-riesling","category-thanksgiving","category-vidal-blanc","category-wine-recommendations"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=57"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}