Jane's Weekly Wines 
from the Atlanta Wine School

PRINT AND GO VERSION
October 26th, 2006
Wine with Sushi
	
************************************************************************************
Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Brut NV
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Medium-bodied dry sparkling wine; medium straw. Aromas of quince and pear; 
spicy fresh fruit flavors, focused on very clean, crisp pear/Asian pear flavors. 
Long, clean, crisp finish, with a touch of ginger in the finish. 
Grape type: Riesling. Outstanding value. Serve moderately chilled, about 
50 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped glasses.

California and other specialty rolls; sashimi; spider rolls; handles well 
soy with a bit of wasabi and LOVES pickled ginger; sunomono (vinagered 
dishes). Other stuff: tuna or beef tataki; beef negima; tonkatsu; steamed 
dumplings with slightly spicy Ponzu dipping sauce; seafood pancakes. 
TERRIBLE with salmon caviar (ikura).

Quality Wine  & Spirits
$19
93

*************************************************************************************
Zolo Torrontés 2006
La Rioja, Mendoza, Argentina

Light/medium-bodied dry white wine; very pale very pale yellow. Gentle aromas of 
exotic fruits and blossoms, suggestion of geraniums; flavors key into ripe melon, 
exotic fruits, such as Asian pear apple, with a touch of orange zest. Much more 
subdued than many a Torrontés, especially those from Salta. Elegant and refined. 
Still clearly Torrontés. Excellent value. Moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, 
in tulip-shaped white wine glasses.

Specialty rolls; all sashimi; shockingly good with ikura (salmon roe). 
Other stuff: seafood pancakes; steamed dumplings with slightly spicy 
Ponzu dipping sauce; tempura.  Any restaurant serving sushi should immediately 
put this one on its list. Outstanding with sushi. 

Unique World Wines
$13
91  

*************************************************************************************
Höpler Grüner Veltliner 2004
Bergenland, Austria

Light/medium-bodied dry white wine; pale yellow. Delicate, fresh aromas of white 
fruit and flowers, fresh pear/Asian pear apple fruit flavors. Hint of ginger and 
similar exotic flavors. Good acidity, (6.5%). Well balanced, with a long finish. 
Fine, almost chalky minerality. Grape type: Grüner Veltliner, which is Austria's 
icon grape.  Classification: Quality type. Excellent value. Serve chilled, about 
45-50 degrees. Drink young.

Scallop sashimi; delicate white fish sashimi or sushi (but better with sashimi); 
rolls with cream cheese and avocado; slightly spicy rolls; Spider roll 
(with fried soft-shell crab). Other stuff:  chicken or pork tonkatsu; 
salt-grilled fish; soft-shell crab; crab legs

Grapefields
$14
89 

*************************************************************************************
Finca los Trenzones Condesa de Leganza Rosado 2005
La Mancha, Spain

Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium deep fuschia. Aromas of red fruits, 
from strawberries to red raspberries, with clean red fruit flavors with a 
touch of brown aromatic spice. Silky textured. Deeply flavored fruit, 
reminiscent of candied apple. Great value. Grape type: Tempranillo Serve 
moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in tulip-shaped glasses.

Tuna and salmon sashimi; steamed dumplings with Ponzu dipping sauce; 
avocado and other vegetable rolls; specialty rolls. Other stuff: beef 
negima; pork or chicken tonkatsu; tempura; teriyaki

National Distributing Co.
88
$9

*************************************************************************************
Sherwood Pinot Noir 2005
Marlboroug, NZ

Medum-bodied dry red wine; medium cherry red. Sweet red cherry/red raspberry aromas, 
touch of vanilla. Very fine tannins support red fruit flavors; brief oak aging 
doesn't get in the way of the fruit. Slight suggestion of dried herb in the 
finish, a note that enhances as wine breathes. Savory rather than sweet, as 
is typical of New Zealand Pinot Noir. Serve moderately cool, about 60-65 
degrees, in ample round-bowled glasses. At Starfish Sushi, a good choice 
with some of their creative specialty rolls.

Sushi and sashimi, scallop; salmon; eel; specialty rolls. 
Other stuff: tuna tataki; rare grilled beef (beef tataki) with slightly 
spicy Ponzu dipping sauce; beef negima; pork or chicken tonkatsu

Quality Wine & Spirits
$16
88

*************************************************************************************
Kikusui Junmai Ginjo
Shibata, North Echigo, Japan

Full-bodied elegant dry sake; very pale, almost water white, with slight golden 
glint. Aromatic, with just a hint of white chocolate; rich, full flavors, 
suggestion again of white chocolate. Complex and intriguing; distinctive, 
with a very long finish. Rice type: Gohyakumanogoku, milled to 55% of original 
rice grain size.  Serve very chilled in small glasses. Alcohol is 15%, to go easy. 

Differing with Mr. Lowry, I thought this went better with sushi than sashimi. 
Smashing with the slightly spicy "Sin City" roll at Starfish Sushi. 
Should do well with Spider Roll (with crisp fried soft-shell crab). 

Savannah Distributing
$15 (720 ml.)
90