A Bottle of Surprise: Serbian Riesling

I am always in search of my new favorite Riesling.

While the common assumption is that all Rieslings are sweet white wines, that is certainly an unfair assumption since Riesling wines can offer a whole lot more than sweetness. Riesling wines vary in character and can be anywhere on the spectrum from light or full, dry or sweet, and delicate or powerful. Germany continues to be the top grower of Riesling vines today, but Riesling is also grown all over the world, including in the Alsace region of France, Clare Valley and Eden Valley of South Australia, and Washington State and New York of the US, just to name a few. The wines are usually varietally pure and seldom oaked, and they are often known for their flowery aromas and high acidity.

Dry Riesling is probably my favorite type of white wine. I was very excited to find a unique bottle of Riesling from Serbia called Vino Budimir Margus Margi. I didn't know anything about this wine or the producer, and I have to say, this bottle was full of surprises. The wine is produced by Vino Bumidir, a 100-year-old family-owned estate in the region of Zupa in southern Serbia. Only 2,500 bottles of the 2011 vintage were produced. One fun fact of this wine is that it was aged in 6,000-liter Serbian oak casks for 3 years. Yes, that's right - Riesling in oak... for 3 years.

My tasting notes on the 2011 Margus Margi Riesling ($20):

• See: The wine has a bright yellow color with a green hue. The color is darker than most Rieslings due to the 3 years spent in oak.

• Swirl: It has medium length legs, kind of far apart from each other. The wine is 12.5% in alcohol.

• Sniff: Big nose of oak, honey, and minerals with subtle notes of melons and nuts.

• Sip: It has a full and round texture, mild tannins, and notes of ripe apple, honey, vanilla, and minerals. Citrus and acidity are also present - though interestingly, they kick in a little later on the palate.

• Savor: The finish is long and buttery. It's a very interesting wine. Nothing you would expect from a typical Riesling. It's kind of funky (in a good way), and I like it! There are many different components of this wine that I wouldn't expect together especially in a Riesling, but they somehow work well together. The acidity cuts through the oak, so the oak doesn't dominate. It also has a citrusy kick, but also has a long, smooth finish. Overall, it's well-structured and interesting. I had this wine with some jalapeno gouda cheese I had sitting around in my fridge (I wouldn't recommend this pairing), but would recommend pairing with food. I think it would pair well with a chicken or pork dish, or even a slice of apple pie (which I craved as I was drinking this wine).

I really enjoyed this wine, but I do think it is a riskier one and may not be for everyone. If anyone is looking for a unique oaked white wine though, then go for it!