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Wine Recommendation
Ventana Vineyards
2005 Riesling, Ventana Vineyard(Arroyo Seco)
Former Navy jet pilot Doug Meador and wife LuAnn Meador founded their winery in 1972. The Meadors now own more than 400 contiguous acres of prime Monterey wine country real estate in the heart of the Arroyo Seco AVA. Their vineyards are located on the west side of the Salinas Valley, where the Arroyo Seco River exits the Santa Lucia Mountains.
Grapes for this refreshingly sweet-tart Riesling from Ventana Vineyards are grown in rocky, well drained calcareous soil. The alluvial deposit provides drainage to about ninety feet or so, low nutritional characteristics, pure water, and the benefits of sun reflecting off stones.
Pale straw and moderately viscous, this wine has immediately appealing, grapey aromas and notes of apple, pine, and a tarry minerality. On the palate the Riesling shines with Jolly-Rancher green apple, coastal pine, and tar notes as well. Residual sugar gives a silky smoothness and balances out the varietal’s inherent acidity. Think of taking a bite of a supremely ripe Hawaiian pineapple – heavenly sweet but mouth-puckeringly tart. Enjoy on its own or with fish tacos.
Reviewed March 23, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.
Other reviewed wines from Ventana Vineyards
The Wine
Winery: Ventana Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Catherine Fallis
Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth. |