From: Nahe, Germany
Varietal: Riesling
Steve Pitcher wrote about the Nahe region in his 2007 article in the San Francisco Chronicle called "Germany's secret Rieslings".
"When you're tucked between famous neighbors, it's easy to be overlooked. With the Mosel to the northwest and the Rheingau to the northeast, Germany's Nahe region, ironically, is less well known–even by Germans–than some of the individual wine estates and great vineyard sites located within its borders. Yet for many connoisseurs of German Riesling, the Nahe is at the top of their list. Some consider it an insider's secret. ...
The general style of Nahe Rieslings borrows something from each of its neighboring regions–the raciness, sleekness, and slate minerality of the Mosel combined with the earthier, riper, nectar flavors of the Rheingau. But what really distinguishes them...is an intriguing, almost pungent mineral character that often drives the wine's apricot and white peach fruit aromas into a supporting role. They are expressive and unique among German Rieslings."
Tasting Notes: "Mineral-rich nose features dried apricot, grapefruit and hints of straw and lavender, plus a little sulfur, which should disappear with a few months more bottle age. Plush and juicy with great concentration, bright but gentle acidity and deep flavors of stone fruit, the wine finishes with a flourish of ripe apricot and subtle botrytis." –Steve Pitcher
Pairing: This plush, invigorating wine would pair nicely with lobster, scallops, or a crispy pork chop. Its flavors would also stand up to the mid-levels of spice often found in Pad Thai and Indian or Thai curries.