A good friend of the Rampant Oenophile recently asked for recommendations for something light and sweet. I had not noticed the definite red wine bias that this blog presents. No white wine reviews for quite some time. To rectify that glaring omission, here's an endorsement for something from the Oregon wine country that I tasted a few weeks ago.
This Rampant Oenophile has enjoyed Gewurztraminer for many years, since introduced to it at an early college party. Not only fun to say, guh-VURTS-trah-MEE-ner, but a delight to drink with snacks or meals.
The 2006 Columbia Winery Gewurztraminer shines a pale yellow hue, and offers a slightly floral bouquet, with tones of apple blossom. Take a sip and enjoy the light apple, grapefruit, and pear tones, with a slight acidity and honey sweetness. It's a little bit more complex than many other Gewurztraminers or Reislings, which makes it an exceptional selection to start your experimentation with sweeter white wines.
The Gewurz is best served slightly chilled, and as a young wine needs little time to breathe. I enjoy it with Asian or Mexican food because the sweetness of the wine balances spicy dishes. You can also try it after dinner with rich deserts to lighten the end of a meal.
At $18-20 per bottle, the Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer is priced modestly. You can find less expensive options, but you won't find many at this price that offer such expanded flavor profiles. You can spend less, but often the lower priced Gewurztraminers remind me of sweetened table wines with much less depth and nuance. Try the Columbia Valley today, and buy an extra bottle to enjoy with friends!
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2 comments:
Can't wait to try it! Thanks Mark!
Your insight is very well written...thanks for the tip!
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