February 4, 2020
4th Annual Great Portland Thai Food Wine Challenge@Red Onion
1. 2016 Chateau Olivier Bordeaux Blanc Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Clase - $40
Dense & savory with a depth of fruit & aniseed character. Full body & a juicy finish. More of a red than a white in texture. Delicious already. Rated 93 by James Suckling
2. 2015 JJ Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett - $27
"This offers a gorgeous nose of white peach, cassis, grapefruit, smoke & herbs. The wine is very dynamic on the palate thanks to most zesty flavors of citrusy fruits as well as plenty herbal scents. The finish is off-dry in taste, very long & offers a great feel of freshness. This is a superb Kabinett to drink by the bottle. What a beauty! Rated 93 Mosel Fine Wines
3. 2015 Estrela Vinho Verde Alvarinho Loureiro - $10
Crisp & lively aromas & flavors of tropical fruits & citrus, with fresh orange blossom & mineral notes. Sharp & refreshing acidity with a vibrant overall mouthfeel. Importer
4. 2016 Keller Scheurebe Kabinett Rheinhessen - $29
“Long live Scheurebe! (The grape has been described as Riesling on LSD) We can think of no better wine to drink with spicy Thai or Indian food (or just on a back porch). It’s lightly sweet & one of those wines defies you to not smile while drinking.” Vinopolis
5. 2014 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Riesling Willamette Valley - $18
This old-vine Riesling matches medium sweetness to ample acidity. It's a dense & flavorful style, taut & fleshy at the same time. The peachy fruit hints at ripe banana as well, with a lick of butterscotch adorning the finish. Rated 91 Wine Enthusiast
6. 2017 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley - $24
A luminous pale gold, this wine opens on the nose with freshness of a first summer rain, layered with scents of white peach and a hint of guava. The palate features a lively acidity balanced by delicate fruit flavors of peach and newly ripened honeydew. A tartness builds, softened by a smooth texture that lingers in the mouth. The mouth-watering finish is unusually bright and crisp. Winery
7. 2017 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands Monterey County - $29
This wine is ultrarich. Its decadent aromas and flavors of ripe apple and cream should pair well with Asiago and dry-cured salami. Wine.com
“Fresh, bright aromas and the taste of white peach, this wine has a vibrant acidity balanced by the lush flavors of fully ripe fruit.” Winery
8. 2014 Vom Boden Riesling Kabinett Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg - $29
“Terrific young Kabinett in this vintage that has produced some many excellent examples of this Prädikat level. The wine wafts from the glass in a very impressively complex & utterly classic constellation of green apple, a touch of white cherry, complex minerality, a touch of petrol, white flowers, a bit of wild yeasts, lemon zest & a whiff of ocean breeze in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium- bodied, mineral & beautifully filigreed, with a nice core of fruit, bright, ripe acids, excellent focus & grip & a very long, dancing & youthful finish of excellent potential. Rated 93+ John Gilman