The month of April has been quite a busy one for me, unfortunately I’ve been mostly busy with things keeping me

2009 Latah Creek Riesling

away from blogging.  However, on a more positive note I think that Spring may have finally sprung, and the best way to celebrate the arrival of spring is by drinking some good wines.  There is nothing like relaxing on the porch with a nice refreshing glass of wine, especially in the warm weather.   About a week ago with temperatures pushing 80 degrees, I thought a Riesling would be nice, so I tried a 2009 by Latah Creek.  Latah Creek is a winery located in Spokane WA, and just recently celebrated 30 years in the business.  They have quite a lineup of wines, which includes a Huckleberry Riesling, and  they are also known for producing some great Merlot.   This Riesling was clear in color with a hint of pale green to it.  On the nose I got aromas of honey and apricots, and it had nice acidity on the finish, with hints of tropical fruit along with just a touch of sweetness.  It really was the perfect glass of wine for a hot day.  Also, at $8 retail it was a fantastic deal for the price. 

Another wine  I recently tried was a 2009 Viura from Rioja, Spain.  Viura, also known as Macabeo, is one of the most widely planted white wine grapes in Rioja.  Aside from on its own, you can find Viura blended with Garnacha Blanca and Malvasia in White Riojas.  This particular bottle called Vetiver was 100% Viura  and produced by Bodegas Ontanon.  This wine was a clear pale yellow in color, and had hints of tropical fruit and toasty oak on the nose.  It was smooth on the palate with mellow acids and a creamy finish.  This was aged in oak for 6 months, and the oak definitely stood out, but overall it was a refreshing wine, and also would be good on a hot day.

I also tried a red wine just recently that seemed to be good for the arrival of Spring.  This was a 2009 Col Di Sasso, produced by Banfi.

2009 Banfi Col Di Sasso

Col Di Sasso which is Italian for “Stony Hill”, is from the Tuscany region of Italy and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.  This was a very pleasant wine, and it had a bright ruby red color, with a nice earthy leathery nose with light fruit.  It had a nice smooth finish with good acids and tannins with a hint of ripe red cherry.   This was a perfect companion witthe grilled tri-tip steak that I had with it. 

So if you haven’t yet, make sure you break out some of your favorite wines and celebrate the arrival of Spring!

Cheers,

Seth