by Saina » Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:34 pm
I rarely eat pork. I don't know why. I made a fillet that I marinated in the remains of yesterday's Tulloch Semillon, onion and cinnamon. Once again I am reminded how well "brown" spices go with Riesling - the Chivite became even more overtly oaky with the dish but the Riesling, despite its sweetness, was just right.
- 1999 Bodegas Julián Chivite Navarra Reserva Coleccion 125 - Spain, Navarra (9/16/2009)
20€; 13,5% abv; 68% Tempranillo, 30% Merlot, 2% Cab Sauv. The scent has some lovely, lifted aromas a little reminiscent of old style Rioja - but sadly the leafiness of the Bordeaux varieties and the still strong oak obfuscate the scents that I liked. Perhaps just more age is needed though the fruit seems mature? The palate has sweet red fruit, moderately high acidity, noticeable but resolved tannins, A very refreshing and lifted finish. Oddly enough, our pork dish accentuated the oak so I actually found more to enjoy without food (first time this has happened!). Some aspects, like the fruit and tannins, make this seem like a wine ready to drink; but the oak seems to need more time to integrate. I liked some parts, but was not convinced by the whole. - 2003 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (9/16/2009)
17,89€; 8,5% abv; 65 g/l RS; 6,6 g/l acidity. Though a year of such over-ripeness that I don't normally seek them out, we have seen so few non-trocken Germans that I had to try one. It's not bad but it is obviously from a hot year. The scent is pure Riesling but veers toward tropical fruits rather than the bittersweet fruit I prefer. It has some of the steeliness I expect of the Saar. Strong fruit, sugary with adequate but not high acidity. It doesn't seem quite flabby to me but I would like it much more with higher acidity and less tropical fruit. So it is noticeably a 2003 - but it is also noticeably Saar. Good, but perhaps a bit too marked by the vintage that I would pay this amount again.
Posted from CellarTrackerI don't drink wine because of religious reasons ... only for other reasons.
