Urban Riesling a perfect choice for spring, summer

Occasion: Spring is without question a perfect time for either rose or German riesling. This latter category is what caught my attention during a nice lunch tasting last week with the uber-cool owner of St. Urbans-Hof in Germany. He explained that he was tired of these long — and to Americans — illegible labels of German wines and he liked to simplify things a bit, hence this Urban Riesling, which takes its name from the estate itself. Riesling is by the way, the most versatile of all food wines and goes along with nearly any dish you can think of, especially spicy Thai or Mexican cuisine.

Wine: Urban Riesling

Grape: Riesling

Region: Mosel, Germany

Vintage: 2014

In the glass: Urban Riesling is a faint citrine-yellow color with a clear bright, light-greenish tinged core going out into a fine glass-clear meniscus (rim definition) with light to medium viscosity.

On the nose: There are fresh, bright white fruit and flower characteristics with pomelo pulp, white grape juice, crushed apricots, brewer’s yeast, green apple slices, citrus rind and chalky minerals.

On the palate: The wine is light and refreshing and incredibly soft with cool pears, apricots, red apples, no discernable alcohol or wood, just pure white fruit meat with crushed white currants and apple sauce through the midpalate. The finish is very light and tasty with hints of minerality and just a lingering touch of apples. It’s a great white wine for the spring and summer months.

Price: $9.99

Availability: Cost Plus, Lee’s Discount Liquor, other retailers

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears on Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.