The Zind-Humbrecht Riesling from the Alsace region of France is a dynamite wine all the way around. It starts with fresh, sliced pineapple on the nose and moves on to grapefruit in the glass. This is a crisp wine with delicious acidity and a vibrant, full flavor finish. Kung Fu Girl / Charles Smith Washington Riesling fans have found a tasty, on trend palate friend in the wallet-wise Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Charles Smith Wines. Packing tremendous quality and palate appeal into this price point is no small feat.Expect layers of peach and citrus, with well-grounded minerality, exuberant acidity and just a smidge of sweet, all working in energetic synergy to make this show-stopping Washington white a perfect partner for Asian-themes (as echoed by consistent headline appearances on P.F.... An Alsatian Riesling that brings mouth-watering acidity mixed with lively stone and citrus fruit to the table. A fantastic Riesling find for a myriad of challenging pairing options - consider giving it a go with Asian Fusion inspired fare.

This stunning Riesling is a delicious collaboration between America's leading Riesling producer, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Germany's Riesling powerhouse, Dr. Loosen. The result is always a stunning Riesling rendition with ultra ripe Washington-inspired fruit and Old World elegance. The nose highlights lemon lime aroma with a subtle, almost spicy edge. The palate profile yields a rich textured, well-balanced medley of citrus and tropical fruit harnessed with a clean, crisp acidity. This Trimbach Riesling falls under the traditional Alsatian Riesling category, bringing ample aromatics, clean flavor profiles and optimal balance between residual sugar levels and acidity. The palate is founded largely on a citrusy base and boasts prominent peach influences. Consider serving with pork tenderloin. A delicious Riesling from Schloss Saarstein running at 8% alcohol, 2011 brings layers of lemon and lime citrus to the forefront with a peach punch and backed up with plenty of lively, lip-smacking acidity.

This Riesling charms with a medium-body and a significant fresh factor firmly grounded by undeniable slate-laced minerality and an elegant, enduring finish. Consider pairing the Schloss Saarstein Riesling with assorted Asian fare, bacon wrapped scallops or pork topped with a favorite fruit... The 2013 Smith-Madrone 100% Riesling is made from 40-year-old estate vines. A terrific growing season gives rise to an exceptional bottle. Expect the bright full flavors of apricot and peach with a sassy citrus center tour radiate on the nose. Vibrant, food-friendly acidity anchored by moderate alcohol levels (12.6% abv) allows the delicious forward stone fruit notes surrounded by wisps of melon and lemon-lime nuances to really shine. This is a classic German Riesling that offers a spicy aromatic nose, delicious palate complexity, and remarkable aging potential. An ultra concentrated wine with the complexity, elegance, and balance to handle a variety of food flavors thanks in part to the lively acidity and well-honed fruit character.

We’re not out of the woods yet, economically speaking. But we may be stumbling in the right direction. My favourite barometer of prosperity, fall wine-auction season (hey, it’s more reliable than Mark Carney), is showing more strength than I’d expected. how much does a glass of wine cost in australiaThe Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, a three-day party that raised $2-million for Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals, pulled in $750,000 from its auction. high end wine los angelesThat figure is 50-per-cent higher than the estimated $500,000 value of the donated items, which included no shortage of trophy wines as well as a fancy Miele kitchen that, sadly, evaded my financial grasp.man o war wine for sale

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Vintages Auction, meanwhile, saw some surprise windfalls. A mere three bottles of 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, the most coveted red Burgundy, sounded the hammer at a higher-than estimated $38,000, though that was a relative bargain compared with $17,925 (U.S.) for a single bottle sold at a Chicago auction two weeks ago. best wine ordering sitesBut there was a softening in the heretofore spectacular highs for 1982 Château Lafite. best wine lunch nycA single case of 12 sold for a mere $42,000, down from a 2010 U.S. record of $58,080 (U.S.).best wines under 20 dollars fall 2015 The numbers offer enticing context for today’s Vintages release at LCBO stores, which shines the spotlight on “premium products” geared to holiday shopping.

Some are very expensive, such as Rubicon Estate Cask Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Francis Ford Coppola’s winery in Napa Valley, at $74.95. But most are more in keeping with the still-timid spending environment. If you shop carefully, you can find relative values. High-roller auction bidders will disagree, but some of the wines below deliver as much balance, complexity and pleasure as can be found in rare old expensive gems that have passed their prime. There’s immense leverage in the $20-to-$30 range in particular. It’s the rewarding terrain of many, if not most, wine enthusiasts. When you’re thirsty for something great and don’t have thousands to spend on obvious, hoity-toity trophies, you’re forced to look beyond the label and put your palate on the line. E. Guigal Gigondas 2007 (France) Here’s a whole lot of wow for the price of a few Starbucks lattes. A red blend of grenache, mourvèdre and syrah from the Rhône Valley, it’s full-bodied and juicy, with ripe fruit, herbal essence and fine, powdery tannins that will enable it to evolve nicely for 10 years.

Try it with lamb. Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 (Italy) The riserva designation means it’s more concentrated than a regular Chianti and is built for five to 10 years in the cellar. But it’s juicy and seductive enough to enjoy now. Medium-full-bodied, it offers a dense core of plum and cherry syrup along with dark chocolate and espresso notes and solid tannic backbone. A fatty Berkshire pork chop or steak would suit it well. Framingham Pinot Noir 2009 (New Zealand) This hails from the Marlborough region, a vast plain more famous for sauvignon blanc. Medium-bodied and jammy, with flavours of berry and plum, it finds complexity in a light suggestion of herbs and spices, namely rosemary and cinnamon. It would be lovely with grilled salmon or seared duck breast. Cabriz Colheita Seleccionada 2008 (Portugal)It’s full-bodied, with a glorious yin-yang of ripe dark fruit and savoury-wood notes. Think plums laced with herbs, flowers and tobacco.

The finish is crisp and very dry. It would match well with pork roast. Maipe Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Argentina) Close your eyes and you could almost be in Bordeaux – for half the money. It’s unusually and pleasantly earthy for New World cabernet, full-bodied and ripe, with raisin-plum flavour, a whisper of graphite (there’s Bordeaux again), warm alcohol and solid acidity. I suggest grilled beef. Agriverde Riseis Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2008 (Italy) A premium take on the great bargain red of central Italy, this montepulciano (that’s the grape) is medium-full-bodied with pure cherry-like flavour, a silky middle and juicy acidity. Grilled sausages would make a fine match, as would many tomato-based vegetarian dishes. But it’s nice on its own, too. Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Chile) SCORE: 89 PRICE: $14.95 Light-bodied with lots of lemon, green apple and refreshing wet grass, this lively white finishes crisp, with a hint of mineral. Pair it with battered shrimp or salads.