Cupcake Vineyards makes an interesting array of wines from fruit sourced the world over. They look to key appellations for what each area grows best and then partner with winemakers in specific areas to produce wines to the specifications of their chief winemaker Adam Richardson. From Argentina they get Malbec and from New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc to name a couple. Now they also have Riesling from Germany. I’ll take a look at that release today.
The Cupcake Vineyards 2011 Riesling was produced from fruit sourced in Germany’s Mosel Valley. All of the fruit for this selection was picked by hand. It was then hand sorted and de-stemmed prior to a gentle crushing and fermentation in a cool temperature controlled environment using select yeast. Just over 13,000 cases of this widely available release were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $13.99.
Aromas of lemon ice and Lychee fruit fill the fresh and welcoming nose of this 2011 Riesling. White peach and continued citrus characteristics are in strong evidence throughout the palate which has hints of crème Brule and apricot as well. Minerals, white pepper and sour orange notes all emerge on the well proportioned finish. This wine is light and refreshing with racy acidity. It’s quite delicious all by itself but works very well with a broad array of foods. I paired it with Jerk Chicken and a side of Caribbean Rice, a match that worked tremendously. This is a fine example of Riesling that is well priced for everyday consumption. It fits well in the Cupcake Vineyards portfolio of budget priced, well made, accessible wines that are widely available.