Introduction
I was lucky enough to receive a sample of the 2017 Chateau Montelena Potter Valley Riesling for review. I don’t know about you, but I adore Chateau Montelena. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful wineries in all of Napa Valley – especially in fall.
I love Riesling
I love Riesling, especially DRY Riesling. It is way underrated and should be a wine that is as well known as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. I think the disconnect comes that most people think of Riesling as sweet. There certainly are sweet Rieslings out there, and that pairs beautifully with spicy, sweet and fried foods. You would be amazed at how food pairing can change your entire perception of wines, even if you are a dry wine lover like me.
Chateau Montelena’s Riesling is on the dry side. On the nose, you get all of the wonderful notes you expect from Riesling. A little petrol, pear, and a few hints of stone fruits and flowers linger. On the palate, notes of honey, flowers, vanilla, cream, and stone fruits. The wine has a lovely long finish but what intrigued me was the creamy middle. It gives a lushness and easy drinkability I loved.
Pairing this Potter Valley Riesling with food
The acidity in this wine will make it a joy to pair with a variety of foods. I think it would be beautiful with our recipe for “Fall butternut squash, blue cheese, and sage filo tart.” The sweetness of the butternut squash, the creamy sharpness of the blue cheese and the earthy sage would bring out all of the wines beautiful notes.
If you are interested in learning more about Riesling, check out my article about Demystifying Riesling Wines.
Should you buy it?
For $27.00 this is a very affordable buy. I am unsure with the creamy center of this wine how it will hold up to long aging, though it would be interesting to try. This is a good solid Riesling, and one of my favorites in Napa. If you would like to purchase this wine for your home, visit the Chateau Montelena website or visit their beautiful estate.
