Sommelier Jerry Lee: Robert Weil Reisling Spatlese

Derek Swanson — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:36:59 +0000

This week’s pick comes from Jerry Lee, wine director and sommelier at The Stonehouse restaurant at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, CA. I asked Jerry to recommend a bottle to pair with a first course (smoked duck and avocado spring roll with boursin cheeze and asian coleslaw) and a second course (Arctic Char with vegetable farro in a lemon beurre blanc) from the restaurant’s menu. Jerry suggested a German Reisling and a local Pinot: The spring roll has an asian flare and a spice to it, so I would recommend something to cut the spice. The Kiedricher Gräfenberg Spatlese from Weingut Robert Weil is a single vineyard wine with a mild sweetness that goes great with the slaw and the sauce in the spring roll. Since we’re in the Central Coast, I like to recommend wines from producers close to home. With the char, you should try the Paul Lato “Suerte” Solomon Hills Pinot Noir. The farro served with the char is earthy, and Pinots from Santa Maria Valley exhibit more earth than those from Santa Rita Hills.”

Stonehouse Dining Room

The Stonehouse is a small and secluded restaurant and the winner of numerous awards, including Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence. Jerry has overseen the wine there for nearly five years, since the historic property completed an extensive (and expensive) renovation. He noted that the majority of visitors and locals alike want to drink local wines, so Jerry keeps his inventory about half domestic and half imported. Jerry also enjoys offering a few exclusive wines by the glass, “I always pour Krug Grand Cuvée by the glass, and currently we’re pouring glasses of 2003 Chateau D”Yquem.”

Solomon Hills

2007 Weingut Josef Leitz “Dragonstone” Riesling, Germany

Derek Swanson — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:50:18 +0000

Label

This week’s pick comes just in time to welcome warmer weather, and is offered up by Michael Bryan, director of the Atlanta Wine School. Michael describes this off-dry Riesling from the Rheingau as “very balanced and generous in flavor” and recommends it for cheese pairings.

Leitz Weingut (winery) produced this white Spätlese wine from the single Drachenstein (Dragonstone) vineyard in Rheingau, which is Germany’s principal region for the production of Riesling.

The Atlanta Wine School offers education for wine lovers of all experience levels, and is a key part of Atlanta’s growing wine scene.

The Dragonstone Reisling retails for about $15 a bottle and can be found at retailers such as these on Wine-Searcher.com.

WeeklyWinePick.com » Germany

Sommelier Jerry Lee: Robert Weil Reisling Spatlese

2007 Weingut Josef Leitz “Dragonstone” Riesling, Germany