WTN: The perfect thing to drink after a day of flying

Right now sitting in a lounge in Taipei Airport in transit after a fairly tiring flight (19 hours, give or take a bit) from NY and a few more hours in the air ahead. Went to the dining bar to grab a bite and was startled/delighted to see an ice bucket in the drinks area with a bottle of 2003 JJ Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese.

Just had to grab a glass, and this is delicious (hardly a surprise considering the producer). Has the sweetness/weight of an Auslese with very youthful flavours of sweet limes, red apples, slate, lots of spices and vanilla and some hints of strawberry and cherry. Very round, creamy mouthfeel with decent acidity and a clean medium-long finish. This may not show the depth or precision of Christoffel's Spatlesen from other vintages, but right now it's drinking really nicely - incredibly tasty and refreshing, and I'll happily grab another glass soon.

[David M. Bueker]

If the airport in Hartford had Christoffel I might never get out of town.

Interesting. Out of curiosity, what other wines did they have? Were they all well-chosen?

After most 19 hour flights, I find myself thinking that the perfect thing to drink is cyanide.

(Your idea is a much better one!)

Interesting. Out of curiosity, what other wines did they have? Were they all well-chosen?

The remainder of the selection wasn't particularly impressive - there was a Peter Lehmann Chardonnay and a couple of Bordeaux I'd never heard of (one bottle was 2003 Chateau Beaumont, the other I can't remember). Those are the sorts of wines I've normally seen in airport lounges around the far east, so my reaction upon seeing Christoffel Spatlese was first "What the hell?!", then I grabbed the nearest available glass.

Interesting. Out of curiosity, what other wines did they have? Were they all well-chosen?

The remainder of the selection wasn't particularly impressive - there was a Peter Lehmann Chardonnay and a couple of Bordeaux I'd never heard of (one bottle was 2003 Chateau Beaumont, the other I can't remember). Those are the sorts of wines I've normally seen in airport lounges around the far east, so my reaction upon seeing Christoffel Spatlese was first "What the hell?!", then I grabbed the nearest available glass.

Yes, that does make it all the more remarkable.

They must get PC's e-mails (9/05 for $7.99/bottle)
But I suspect those same grey market goods were offered in other wine-loving areas as well.
Whatever the reason, what a pleasant surprise for the situation.
Charles