2009 Paul Anheuser Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Spätlese Nahe Riesling

As you might have weaned from my writings, I like to eat. But, I’m not a food snob. I’ll try just about anything and, unless it’s totally gross, finish it too! The last thing I had trouble choking down was a plate of fried cricket tacos in Mexico: hard to get beyond the visual on that one.

I particularly like ethnic food preferring that it did not crawl in its previous life nor sport more appendages than me. It often makes wine pairing a challenge but there are a few standards to live by. Take Thai food, for instance. The predominant spices used are lemongrass, basil, coconut milk, curry powder and an assortment of chilies that can really turn up the heat. All of these flavors, as well as the style of preparation, pair extremely well with Rieslings, and German Rieslings at that. And, this week’s pick, the 2009 Paul Anheuser Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Spätlese Riesling, is a fine example of what German Rieslings represent: well crafted wines with balanced fruit, sugar and acidity. There are different levels of sweetness and dryness found in German wines, the nuances of which are to great to cover here but, as a rule of thumb, Rieslings and Thai food are a winning combination.