Life has been busy, and with two sets of parents in town for our son's baptism recently, the blog has had to wait. But we're settling into our normal routine now, and to catch up I'll begin an occasional series of head-to-head Riesling reviews. Today's theme is East Meets West, and we'll look at Rieslings from Washington State and Virginia.

The Virginia selection comes from Gray Ghost Vineyards, and the Washington selection is the "Naked" Riesling from Snoqualmie.

Labels

• Gray Ghost:"This elegant, off-dry Riesling has classic floral aromas followed by concentrated flavors of green apple and red grapefruit. The lively acidity gives the wine a well-balanced finish with hints of spice. Serve with fish, poultry or pasta dishes with white sauces."
• Snoqualmie: "Organically farmed and produced, this Riesling offers bright aromas of apricot and spice, with a hint of mineral carried through on the palate. The off-dry finish is clean and soft and the pure elegance of the varietal is fully captured in this bottling. A perfect aperitif or wine pairing with assorted cheeses."

My Thoughts

• Gray Ghost: As I began to sip this Riesling, I didn't get much in the way of flavor. Sure, I got some generic floral aroma and spice, but I also got a watery taste, and that's the "flavor" I most dislike in wine. Thankfully, as it warmed in the glass the wine took on fruity flavors, and the finish was pleasant. The finish redeemed the slow start, but I wouldn't pay $19 for this again. Don't take that as a complete negative, though--I'll certainly be tasting the other wines Gray Ghost has to offer.
• Snoqualmie: This wine is clearly in the major leagues. Yellow in the glass, its sweetness and fruit combine for what would be a lovely balance to any spicy food. For me, it's too sweet to be enjoyed on its own or with mild food, but that's not a criticism of the wine itself. And for $9 cheaper than the Gray Ghost wine, the value by comparison is unmistakable.

You can see then, that the Washington wine won pretty easily. Riesling may not be a wine that we should grow a lot of here in Virginia since what's available from the Pacific Northwest and Germany is so often better and so much more available for such reasonable prices.

Stats

• Gray Ghost:
  • Alcohol: 12.0%
  • Residual Sugar: <unknown>
  • Vintage: 2009
  • Appellation: Northern Virginia Region
  • Price: $19.00
  • Rating: 5
  • Value (Rating/Price): 0.26
    
• Snoqualmie:
  
  • Alcohol: 12.0%
  • Residual Sugar: 2.78 g/100mL
  • Vintage: 2008
  • Appellation: Yakima Valley
  • Price: $9.99
  • Rating: 8
  • Value (Rating/Price): 0.8
    

About Gray Ghost
Gray Ghost is a family-owned winery in Amissville, VA. They've got a lovely, low-pressure tasting room where you can purchase wine by the glass. If you're ever in Northern Virginia, you really should go pay them a visit.

About Snoqoualmie
Located in Prosser, WA, Snoqualmie prides itself on being a sustainable/organic winery, though not all of its wines are organic. Look for its "Naked" line of red and white organic if that's an important issue for you. The Vineyard is owned by Ste. Michelle, which explains its good packaging and wide distribution.