2016 Stratus “Evergreen” Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA, Canada (10.3% Alcohol, 15.1g Residual Sugar) LCBO Vintages $19.95 (750ml bottle)
I’m still a sucker for the odd off-dry Niagara Riesling, and this new Evergreen bottling from our friends at Stratus ticks all the right boxes in that department.
Coming in at a modest 10.3% alcohol, and with a tad over 15g/l residual, this Evergreen Riesling is all about equilibrium. The nose gives us classic Niagara aromatics of citrus (lemon, lime, clementine) as well as a gorgeous drippingly ripe peach character as well as a little floral orchard blossom and a hint of galangal. It really is quite delightfully pretty and enticing.
The palate is crisp, mouthfilling (even on the mid-palate) and ultimately refreshing, the firm-but-fair 7.7 g/l acidity acting as the perfect foil for the wine’s sugar level, making it most versatile wine for pairing with food indeed. Last week I enjoyed this with a traditional Thai green curry and it did an admirable job countering the complex and layered components of the dish, and although may all have been in my head/palate, I found that it was artfully mirroring the juicy, mouthwatering galangal element.
And as if that wasn’t enough to get you rushing out to try a bottle, Stratus are donating $1 for every bottle sold at the LCBO to Canada’s fantastic Evergreen Project non-profit. So what are you waiting for?
(Four apples out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And that went down rather easily.
