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WTN: ESJ. Darting, etc

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Dale Williams

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WTN: ESJ. Darting, etc

by Dale Williams » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:49 pm

With Betsy away, friends called to invite me for dinner on a couple nights:

With pasta with pesto, the 2004 Piccollo Gavi di Gavi. Light lemon and apple flavors, a light whiff of mineral. A little lacking in concentration, and short on finish. Quaffable but a little dull. B-/C+

With bbq chicken, rice & peas, and asparagus, the 2003 Trinitas Old Vine Cuvee (Contra Costa). A kitchen sink of grapes, including Zinfandel, Carignan, & Alicante (and a few others, maybe Mataro?). Low expectations, but this is actually a pretty flavorful wine. Rich dark berry fruit, some toasted oak notes, quite ripe. Winesearcher says this is $16-20. At that price, this is a pretty decent substitute for a Gigondas, though clearly New World. B

Also over last few nights ,
1999 Edmunds St. John Rocks and Gravel
Picked up in a closeout bin for cheap. Not faded at all, ripe but with balance and a clean finish. Pretty wine with notes of earth, sweet herbs, and leather adding complexity. B+

2004 Darting Dürkheimer Michelsberg Riesling Kabinett
If you buy this expecting a lightfooted Kabinett, you're screwed. But for what it is quite nice. Peach fruit with orange zest, quite sweet but with a backbone of acidity. Nothing subtle here, but definite QPR here at $12. B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency
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David M. Bueker

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Re: TN: ESJ. Darting, etc

by David M. Bueker » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:17 am

Dale Williams wrote:
2004 Darting Dürkheimer Michelsberg Riesling Kabinett
If you buy this expecting a lightfooted Kabinett, you're screwed. But for what it is quite nice. Peach fruit with orange zest, quite sweet but with a backbone of acidity. Nothing subtle here, but definite QPR here at $12. B


Ain't that the truth (about both kabinett and QPR). I now look to the QbAs when I want a lightfooted kabinett. It's even worse in 2005, with the higher ripeness. There are some delicious kabinetts (look to the 2005 Darting Muscat Kabinett Trocken for a great wine at a great price), but they are few and far between, at least if you want them to taste like kabinett. If you want bargain spatlese and auslese you'll do fine.
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