The 2018 edition of the Two Sisters’ Riesling is perfect for the patio and for spicy pizzas…
Name: Riesling
Vintage: 2018
Producer: Two Sisters Vineyards
Region/Country: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada
Grape Varietal(s): Riesling
Alcohol Level: 10% abv.
Consumed: At home
Recommended By: Received as a gift but available at the LCBO (local liquor board)
Cost: $35 CAD
For the more detailed wine review, read on…
Bottle Presentation
An interesting dichotomy on the label. On the one hand, it appears clean and simple with a design framing the minimalist text. On the other hand, the framing is quite busy – makes us think Victorian or Georgian in style – and the textured white background (which in itself is a great touch) make for a lot going on.
Appearance
Pale lemon-green.
Nose
Clean, medium(+) intensity nose, with notes of petrol, citrus (lemon, lime, clementine, and tangerine), apricot, honeydew melon, cut grass, and a hint of blossom. The tart citrus notes were stronger when the wine was colder, whereas the clementine, tangerine, and apricot notes emerged when the wine warmed a little. We also noticed a slight spritz to the wine, like a Vinho Verde, when we first opened it – maybe because it was a little warmer than it should have been… We would consider this a youthful wine.
Palate
Off-dry (a hint of sweetness), medium(+) body, with high acidity, and low alcohol. The palate offered notes of green apples, mineral (chalk), wet stone, citrus (Meyer lemon, lime, blood oranges, clementines), and a touch of petrol.
Finish
Long citrus finish.
Overall Impressions
An easy-to-drink Riesling with a hint of sweetness and abundant citrus notes. The 2018 Two Sisters Riesling has crisp acidity and the classic petrol notes we expect from Riesling produced in Niagara (as well as other wine regions). With outstanding balance, length, and intensity, and decent complexity, we would rate the 2018 Two Sisters Riesling as a very good wine.
We were given this bottle to drink with Thanksgiving dinner, though ended up only trying it a week later with our usual Friday night pizza night. It paired nicely with our spicy Calabrese pizza as well as the sweet-and-salty apple-balsamic vinegar-prosciutto-goat cheese pizza. Usually, we have red wine with our pizzas, but the 2018 Two Sisters Riesling may have changed our minds. The low alcohol and off-dry (slightly sweet) taste kept the Calabrese’s spiciness under control while matching the sweetness of the other pizza.
We’d suggest drinking this Riesling now. Saying that, you could cellar it for 2-3 years, which would likely result in more petrol and honey notes as it ages.
The quality of this 2018 Two Sisters’ Riesling has convinced us we need to visit the winery.
Ratings
Overall Rating: 90/100.
E-Wine rating: 3/5. We would purchase two bottles, one to enjoy now and one to pour in a couple of years.
Value: 2/5. At $35 CAD, we find it a tad expensive given other available offerings.