Skip to main content

2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling


K Vintners – 2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling
another recommended wine made by Charles Smith.
Don't you love the label?

I missed sampling this wine at Taste Washington, so I felt I owed it to myself to try a bottle at home. Washington is well known for Riesling - we have the perfect climate for growing the varietal. And Riesling was one of the states first widely successful wines in the 1970's - 1980's. With the increased focus on red wine grape varietals and all things Chardonnay in the 1990's, Rieslings popularity faded. A focus on Late Harvest Rieslings and Ice Wine production meant that dry Rieslings were largely ignored. But that has changed.

I've noticed a Riesling renaissance occurring over the last eight years. The popularity of Chardonnay has proportionally decreased as the popularity of Riesling has increased. Some growers have been replacing Chardonnay vineyards with new Rieslings vineyards. Many great Rieslings are being produced in Washington -just check out the annual reviews and awards the varietal is receiving.

My "mature" palate leans to the dry and acidic Rieslings - more "Alsatian" in style. Some of us who "grew up" with Riesling, used to drink the overly sweet ones. Sweet is easy to understand for new wine drinkers. But as we mature, sweet no longer satisfies.

Kung Fu Girl Riesling does not disappoint. This wine is steely sharp. It is a dry Riesling with lively citrus notes of grapefruit and green apple. Give the wine some air and a honeysuckle nose emerges, followed by a very crisp finish with lingering honey on the palette. A pretty picture, non?

Kung Fu Girl can slice and dice. It is an excellent foil for sushi, sashimi, bacon-wrapped scallops or a plate of prosciutto and cheese with crusty bread. This is a dry and acidic wine, not sweet, so you are fore-warned and fore-armed. Enjoy.

You can find this wine and more wines by Charles Smith at http://www.kvintners.com/ or ask your local wine merchant to bring some in.

Cheers!
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Three Albariños and Several Food Pairings | Taste Rías Baixas

As promised, more reviews of  Albariño wines from Rías Baixas.  My previous post ( My Favorite White Wines this Summer are from DO Rias Baixas ), I emphasized more traditional food pairings, grilled shrimp, Ceviche, and watermelon. This time, I wanted to try some different pairings to see how well Albariño wines would match. I love seafood, but I was curious about the flexibility of this variety. My test pairings began with a series of mini quiche I made at home, spinach, hamburger, tomato, dill and steak. Following are my tastings notes on the wines and the food pairing results. Results were mixed. Map of DO Rías Baixas and sub-zones. While twelve grape varieties are permitted in DO Rías Baixas, the white Albariño grape represents 96% of all plantings. Albariño refreshes as a drinking wine and appeals to diverse cuisine. Albariño from Galicia delivers for me on many levels. Bright acidity, refreshing citrus flavors and that compelling salinity which in...
Read more

2 Badger Mountain Organic NSA Red Wines Reviewed

Some of you prefer organic food, but have you tried organic wine? I had a great experience at a red wine tasting at Badger Mountain Organic Vineyard and Powers Winery. Mickey Dunne, winery Owner and Sales Director, was my host. I was delighted by the Badger Mountain Organic NSA wines. It all made perfect sense. Rejoice because these are top-notch wines, big on flavor and modest on price.
Read more

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d...
Read more