Trittenheimer

2007 Grans Fassian Riesling Kabinett, Trittenheim (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer), Germany ($11.99 at Lopez Liquors)
This before work treat had delightful acidity that enabled you to keep doing your laundry. A nice amount of residual sugar and low alcohol (8.5% ABV)seemed as subtle as a sip of Sprite. Expect nuances of petrol, lime and other types of deliciousness. This bottle was hidden in the back of the cooler, thus making it the find of the decade--last bottle. Why don't more places have German Riesling?!!

Riesling and Cotes du Rhone

2010 Clean Slate Riesling, Mosel, Germany ($11.99 at Lopez Liquors)
It was dry and had flint on the nose. It wasn't super memmorable, but tasted good with the Thai food we were eating at Pacific Thai (on Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, CA). The sweet and spicy flavors paired well with the wine. I would've liked more acid and more residual sugar to keep up with the cuisine.



2007 La Pialade Grenache Blend Cotes du Rhone, France ($60 at Sierra Mar Restaurant)
Imagine dating someone you didn't think was that cool...at first. There were nuances of dead mouse (brettanomyces) and some volatile acidity that was a lot like worsteshire sauce. We thought the wine needed to open up, but it was our palates that did. Once we got adjusted to all it had to offer, we started to appreciate its flaws, layers and mystique. It had nuances of: fennel, cinnamon, and tar. Its color was clear and its modesty added to its complexity.

Over the Hill and Through the Kelp

2006 Marc C. Kreydenweiss, Grand Cru Wiebelsberg "La Dame" Riesling, Alsace, France ($14)
The color was gold and that indicated it's over-the-hill character. We're not sure what this wine's downfalll was, but it was dissapointing. On a positive note, we drank it as we kayaked over the kelp at Lover's Point in Pacific Grove, CA. The wine lacked acidity, but there were some honey nuances that seemed to charm us as we struggled against the south winds. For such a casual moment, this was the perfect wine, as anything better would have taken from the experience.

Oberhaus

2000 "Oberhauser Brucke" Nahe Eiswein - this wine was so good that I almost cried! It's complexity and low-alcohol content was greatly appreciated. I'd take this over Iniskillin in a second. The intense, bouquet, flavor and acidity were delicious ($235.00 per half bottle). The ladies who gave me a taste, started with 90' "Sugarille" Brunello by Anjelo Gaja and a 99' Cristal Brut. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2000 Donhoff Riesling "Eiswein" "Oberhauser Brucke" - Nahe - $250 per half bottle on Casanova's list. People love to hear about how the grapes aren't picked until the first freeze after the normal harvest. Even if you’re full, you could have a glass of this. The wine was so good I'm almost cried. Breathtaking acidity with a heavy viscosity. Intense everything! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Nierstein

1997 “Niersteiner Pettenthal” Riesling Auslese, Weingut Hernsheim – I thought the color was pretty light (only a touch of gold) for being an older late harvest wine. Apparently, they use quite a bit of sulfur to stabilize the wines. I like how this gem ($65) was not sticky and a little light for auslese. I don’t know why the folks on table six were drinking this with their coffee, but I’m glad they ordered it. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2015 

Ostrich

2004 Schloss Vollrads Halbtrocken-Kabinett Riesling from Oestrich, Rheingau 11.5% (8/23/07). This cost $15 at Nielsen's and was worth every penny. The acidity was remarkable and I actually got a russet potato skin nuance that had a sanded wood spice. I felt like I was having a granny smith apple but the color was golden brown. The viscosity was like half and half milk and I thought it was Alsatian in style. Being that there's no sweetness in this wine, a customer would never refuse this. This made me salivate so much that it was stupid-wicked-retarded! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

Hallgarten

2005 "Hallgartener Jungfer" Spatlese Riesling from the Rheingau, Prinz 8/30/07 - so fucking good but a little too sugary. This was clearly a ripe year, but the nectarine acidity held strong like a laser. Even the old ladies on table 20 like it and tipped 20%. The next day, a couple on 34 had a half bottle and decided to take two to go. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Bernkastel

2004 "Bernkasteler Doctor" Riesling Spatlese, Weingut Wegler – This was one of my most favorite wines. Had amazing minerality, with floral and kiwi notes. It had intense acidity and wasn't very unctuous or sugary. I'm ready to go on a trip to a dessert island with a case of this. Has a long life ahead of it, unless you're alone on a dessert island for a day. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

Grunhaus

2004 “Abstberg” Riesling Spatlese, Maximim Grunhauser – It was taking on a yellowish gold color, which doesn’t look promising. However, it had vibrant laser beam acidic edge with baked apple nuances. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now 

Piesport

2004 Riesling Kabinett, Grans Fassian – It had the color of frozen white grapes. Quick-sheeting tears with a gasoline and lemon zest. Not as ripe of a year as 03' or 05' so the wine was lean with a dry finish. Not as much acidity as other Kabinetts I've tasted. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Mitelhrein

2006 Toni Jost Bacharacher Hahn Kabinett Riesling – Mittelhrein, Germany
If someone likes white zinfandel, help them change their life by giving them this. Jost is one of the best producers in the Mittelhrein region .Riesling, which is arguably one of the best white grapes in the world, takes on such a wide array of flavors that it’s easy to say, “More please.” It has intense acidity on the back part of the tongue and a bit of sweetness on the tip of the tongue. This one is low in alcohol, and the flavors are harmoniously integrated. Only a little of this leaves the country. Therefore, enjoy the spice, petrol, honey, leeches, apple, kiwi, and nectarine, flavors. Don’t be a sheep, try this wine for yourself. Last tasted 2007 Drink now

Maipo Valley

2006 Dona Isidora “Cousino Macul” Riesling, Maipo Valley $10 (9/21/07) – I’ve never tasted potatoes, parsnips and root-vegetables in my wine. There’s some lime and the dirt you might taste if you didn’t wash your produce. I like sweeter Rieslings with more viscosity and lower alcohol. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Central Otago

2004 Felton Road Riesling from Central Otago, N.Z. The grapes came from the Bannockburn vineyard and the alcohol was only 9%. This was like drinking a "Lime Ricky" at the Rio Grill. It was so delicious I was pounding the bottle and feeling better with every sip. It was about $20.00 in Southern Latitudes and it was one of the best bottles I've had in awhile. It was super limeade lemonade margarita with Patron Silver. You couldn't taste the alcohol. Dramatic and austere palette-cleansing acidity that's so intense you feel like you're on a roller coaster with winds blowing your hair into frenzy. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

Zellenberg

2001 Marc Tempe Zellenberg Riesling, Alsace 8/30/07 ($19 @ Nielsen's) - it has a gold color and there's not much fruit. Nonetheless, the viscous mouthfeel with an acceptable amount of acidity and lemon tart make this wine a decent value. Marc Tempe should lay off the sulfur, sanded wood. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Riquewihr

1999 Weinbach Riesling “Schlossberg” – For $90, this wine is not worth it. It was too old and gold. I was disappointed that I recommended this one to the folks in the wine cellar. I guess there was something interesting about it? Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now 

Ribeauville

2005 Weinbach Riesling "Personnelle" - this year produced a dry wine with less fruit than how I remembered in years past. It was a bit closed and a little young, but I enjoyed its petrol complexity. Looks promising, but needs time. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2002 Tokay P. Gris “Cuvee Laurence” – Weinbach ($92 on Casanova’s wine list). If there were a swarm of bees around, they would’ve slurped this wine down and brought the bottle back to their honeycomb. It was real sweet and syrupy. The customer had asked for Conundrum so I told him to get this. It was sexy, viscous and had lots of honey. It was pretty mature but wasn’t flabby. Table 25 in Casanova during lunch. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

Bergheim

2001 Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg, Sparr - ($299 case). Jean-luc opened it yesterday and it was still electric! There was plenty of petrol and Kris got everyone stoked on the flavors. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

R & R

The other night was all about R & R. When I say that, I'm directly referring to Red Bull and Riesling. After surfing glassy chest high waves at Carmel, my buddy Ben knew that the sun was setting and it would soon be time to eat. So, he made some plays, "Paul go get some cabbage and meet me back at the house." He mentioned that he was preparing some corned beef and that I should buy some stuff at the store.

The cabbage was a given. I on the other hand let my sommelier brain take over and started to reflect on similar experiences from the past (salty with sweet pairings). I immediately thought about this '05 Erben Von Beulwitz Kabinett ($20) I had with buddies on a previous St. Paddy's Day. That occasion made sense and I decided to help recreate it on an even smaller budget.

So, it was off to the new Pacific Grove Safeway for cabbage and yes, the '08 Schmitt Sohne 1 liter from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany ($8). Needless to say, the meal was amazing, but the epiphanies were even more powerful.

Both Ben and his lady Laurel started to describe the wine as we all worked together: There are aromas of green apple Jolly Rancher Candy, lemon-lime Sprite and other citrus nuances.

As our thoughts ran wild, I started saying to myself, "Wow, this wine is so good, especially if you sipped it on a hot day (only 9%ABV). Chicks would dig this even if they didn't like wine." Laurel was like, "This is one of those wines you could cut with soda and people would actually drink it." I was thinking Sprite would work well. Ben was thinking Red Bull and the rest was history. You can pound wine that tastes like soda and get a caffeine jolt to keep you from passing out. Nice.

Low Standards

I woke up in my buddy's attic at 7:00 a.m. and knew that it was time to get up and chase waves. Upon leaving his house I noticed that it was overcast and rainy. Nevertheless, I headed to where I thought the waves would be good. Unfortunately, I was wrong and the wind was from the west. No way would I be surfing when it's cold, windy and inconsistent right? Wrong.

I scaled down the rocky cliff with my ripped, wet wetsuit with hopes of cracking the lip on one of those set waves. The wind was wrong and I began my cold wait for a wave. I paddled for one and barely kept the nose of my board from pearling and had to air drop over kelp-covered boulders. When the wave mushed out, I kept driving straight toward the beach instead of letting the wave run away from me. Soon, I was getting close to the rocks without getting a chance to do maneuvers. It's all good.

I arrived at my buddy Ben's house to shoot the sh&% and sample some wine. We started with a 2009 Poet's Valley Riesling from the Columbia Valley ($15) . If I blind tasted it, I would've guessed it was from Austria. There was ample acid with a touch of sweetness on the tongue. Seemed cloying at first, but was actually quite good. It was clear in color and the alcohol was only 12.9%, which made it easy to quaff.

Then, I blind tasted the 2008 Château Fleur La Mothe ($15 at Costco). It tasted pretty smoky and oaky, but wasn't bitter enough to be a Syrah. It went good with the massive Rib Eye we ate.

2007 Sin Zin Zinfandel ($10 at Costco) - the tannins were soft and the fruit forward qualities made this wine seem hedonistic and easy to sip ($10 at Costco). It reminded me of eating cotton candy at a carnival.

Taylor Fladgate 10 year Tawny Port ($20 at Costco)- the wine outshines the one below, but not by much.

Morgado Tawny Port - for $5.99 a bottle at Trader Joes, I feel inspired to be like Keruac and sip wine and write poetry.

Shane Beschen shreds because he is always surfing, "I'm out there when the waves are good. Hell, I'm out there even when the waves aren't good." The same goes for wine. I surf cold, bumpy waves and sip cheap port.