We All Remember Our First Love...

I don't know about you, but I still remember my first love.  I'd say it was a summer love kind of thing but it was more than that.  It was my first FLX Riesling love...it may be the one responsible for sucking me into the whole Rielsing thing.

We read a few things online about the new kids on block so when we found ourselves at the northern end of the east side of Seneca Lake, we couldn't pass up a chance to visit Zugibe.  We had a great tasting with Brendan and we have made it a point to stop in any time we're in the area - but that's fodder for another day.  This one is about the rock star - Zugibe 2008 Dry Rielsing!  It had everything I love - acidity, minerality and lime...lots of lime.

We opened our last bottle the other night and the gripping acidity has mellowed over the past year.  I got a wet slate kind of minerality on the nose with no petrol at all.  It was light and refreshing with citrus and lime; it was beautifully balanced with lovely acidity leading to a crisp finish...and it was awesome with slow roasted shrimp!  I keep telling you I'm fickle!

Uh-Oh...I'm in love......again

Have I mentioned how much I've come to love Riesling?  And have I mentioned just how fickle I can be? 

Just in case you missed it, I have become a huge believer in Riesling.  It's incredibly food friendly, or so we hear, but let's be honest; the bottle rarely lasts long enough for me to get dinner on the table.  But I don't love every Riesling; I love them dry, with minerality and acidity.  I love the lime and even a hint of petrol.  People talk of terrior all the time, but if there's any wine in which it is so obvious to me, it's in Riesling.  On a really good day, I can tell you on which side of the lake the grapes were grown.  On others.....well, we won't go there.  But...as with everything in life, there needs to be balance to make it all work.

We love Shaw's reds but what about this?  Let me tell you; everything I could ever ask for just came out of this bottle - the Shaw 2007 Dry Riesling.  It has a lovely minerally nose with fresh lemon and peach, followed by honey and peach on the palate and shows mineral and slate on the lingering finish.  It has bright acidity that is beautifully balanced with just a hint of RS.  Even PIC is on board on this one!

I'm sorry previous Riesling love; I'm breaking up with you.