June 21, 2006
Château Bela 2003 Sturovo Riesling, about $15
Want a bargain? Look where few others look. Try Slovakia, for instance. A few hundred miles to the west down the Danube, Austrian wine producers turn out exceptional dry rieslings, so why not here, where vines have flourished since Roman times?
The vineyards tempted Egon Müller of Germany's famed Müller-Catoir estate to buy Chateau Bela a few years back; this third vintage shows that he was on to something. Bone-dry, mineral-laden and full of mouthwatering lime flavor, it's perfect warm-weather drinking - and it's a steal at $15.
Don't tell anyone, though: If others find out about Slovakian riesling, it might start driving prices up.
Imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York
This first appeared in the Denver Post.