Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley 2017

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley 2017 (SKU 232512, $20.69 tax included, WS 89 pts.)

I needed an economical white wine for a dinner party and was scratching my head when I ran into this wine at the liquor store. I recalled that the winery had a good reputation for producing good value wines and I actually visited it four years ago in Woodinville, WA. As with other new world Riesling, the nose was not overwhelming when first opened. It had a medium body with taste of citrus fruits and a hint of honey on the back end. It paired well with the salad course. It should also go well with a Chinese meal. The ladies liked it because it was not too dry. It was meant for immediate consumption. There is ample supply in the LDB stores.

Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa The Barossan 2016

Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa The Barossan 2016 (SKU 144937, $22.99 tax included)

I found the 2016 vintage at the BC Liquor Store recently and wanted to compare it to the very fine 2015 vintage that I mentioned in my March 2018 blog. Upon opening, it had a fruity nose and dense aroma. It tasted very similar to the 2015 vintage, a big Australian fruit bomb. I like my wines to mellow down a little bit, so I would put it in my cellar for another five to ten years, again similar to last year's vintage. There was no Wine Spectator rating yet but I would guess it would a similar rating of 90 points like last year. I also checked the Wine Spectator vintage rating chart and found the two vintages from Barossa region had similar score. The bonus is that the wine is now on sale this month. Given a similar wine compared to last year and a 10% discount, I would definite buy a few bottles for my cellar. There is ample stock in the LDB stores.