What We're Drinking

Before we get started: This is the first in a series of periodic posts in which we will review and discuss the various wines and beers that we have been drinking. We hope that it will be a way for you to get to know a little more about our tastes and styles, and possibly discover some new bottles that you never knew were out there, or just hadn't bothered to try. If you have thoughts about a particular selection, please share them; we would welcome a discussion. If you are trying to become more knowledgeable about beer or wine, we will hopefully be able to give you some recommendations and give you a good jumping off point for your explorations.

So let's get down to business - The Charles Smith 2009 Kung Fu Girl Riesling.

Sean Sullivan of the WA Wine Report recently held a Virtual Tasting that focused on this bottle. I was feeding my inner Browncoat with a screening of Serenity at the Metro that evening, so I was unfortunately unable to participate (though I am looking forward to the upcoming tasting). Here's my 2 cents now though, for what it's worth.

Charles Smith is a rock star Washington winemaker, who has become known for his K Vinters and Magnificent Wine Company labels as well as his laid-back, straight-forward approach to winemaking (quoth his website: "It's just booze - drink it!"). He has garnered a great deal of attention in the past year by winning multiple awards from various publications, including Food & Wine Magazine's Winemaker of the Year.

Kung Fu Girl is part of the Charles Smith Wines "Modernist Project." This label was founded on the current consumer trend of buying wines for immediate consumption. Therefore, Smith's goal is to produce affordable yet elegant wines that are full of flavor and immediately drinkable.

Kung Fu Girl sports a pale straw color and aromas of citrus and apples. The citrus continues upon tasting, giving the wine a very crisp, sharp flavor that incorporates hints of lime. It has a bit of a bite-y, acidic finish, but this is tempered by pairing it with food (I was gorging on our exquisite steamed chicken dumplings with spicy Thai peanut sauce; it was an excellent combination). I like Rieslings that lean toward the lighter side, favoring crispness over an overly-sweet approach, and this wine did that fairly well. It's not my fave, but it is decent, and a great value for the price (retailing at about $12).