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Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:57 pm
by David M. Bueker
Andrew - where in MA do you shop?

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:32 am
by Bob Parsons Alberta
So here we go forumites, my tasting notes on the hot item coming out of Clare Valley and Mr. Grosset!

WTN: `05 Grosset Watervale Riesling, Mount Lofty Ranges South Australia.


13% alc, SC, $24 Cdn (discount), opened one hour and served quite chilled. Very well known riesling, rated high by those-in-the-know.

Color. Light lemon yellow, some might think deep straw maybe?

Nose. Very aromatic, no gasolein, some lime, quite floral, very appealing for sure with more mineral tones on day 2.

Palate. Initial entry thought was very dry, almost bracing, no tropical fruit salad here folks, long minerally finish. Starts to strut its stuff after 30 mins in the glass, reminds me of an Alsacian-style from Schleret. "Slate, no spice or pepper" from across the table. I find lemon and unripe BC pear here, needed some food to match the acidity level. Quite austere, even on second day but very much the classic wine I had expected.

**** anyone care to speculate how this might cellar?

WTN: '07 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:00 am
by David M. Bueker
2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
This is lip smacking goodness. It's not the most profoundly complex expression of Riesling, but it is showing fine acid balance, especially for the (in my opinion) somewhat heavy 2007s, and the bright, citric fruit shows as only barely sweet. It's a great food wine that is also great to sip on its own. Drink soon for the pretty fruit and fine balance - it's too lovely to miss out.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 1:09 pm
by Jay Labrador
I didn't take notes but an August Kesseler Estate Riesling 2007 went astonishingly well with a Thai dinner last night. I also tried to pair the food with several beers but the wine beat them all hand down.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:24 pm
by Keith M
Jay Labrador wrote:I didn't take notes but an August Kesseler Estate Riesling 2007 went astonishingly well with a Thai dinner last night. I also tried to pair the food with several beers but the wine beat them all hand down.

Which beers?

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:29 pm
by Jay Labrador
We had Singha, Hoegaarden, Rogue John John Juniper Ale, Rogue Brutal Bitter IPA, and Rogue Mom's Hefeweizen.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:42 am
by Bob Parsons Alberta
WTN: `79 Jos. Christoffel Jr. Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, M-S-R.

What a great gift last Xmas from the girls at the Grill. Letting them try some of the wines from the cellar pays off! This Mosel is still available for $70 Cdn I think, nineteen bottles left I am told.

Pulling the cork was easy, still looked new and in great condition. 7.5% alc, A.P. Nr 2 602 144 4 80.
I let wine breathe for an hour and served nicely chilled. As the wine came from DeVines, I allowed the staff there to try a small glass, they were duely impressed when I served blind!

Color was a medium gold. On the nose, some lemon/citrus and white stonefruit. All thought the gasolein enhanced the wine and added to the character. The lovely aromatics did decline somewhat by late evening.
Initial entry thoughts were this is top notch! The terrific acidity balances the sweetness, honeysuckle on a long finish. "Great with Szechuan food" was a comment, "tropical fruit salad" another. Ripe apple and pear to my mind, not at all cloying. Very impressive indeed and one of the best German wines I have ever tasted.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:41 pm
by JC (NC)
2002 Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Spatlese Riesling A.P. # 3 586 014-14-03. Imported by Valckenberg. Purchased at Macarthur Beverages, DC? 7.5% alcohol.
Some petrol but in a pleasing sense. Tastes sweet but not cloying. Some lime notes and subtle spice over slate and rocks. Nice pairing with goat cheese and crackers and with baked fish.

Last night I opened a 2002 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese which was spritzig upon pouring. IMO it was not as pleasurable as the Grunhauser but I will finish it up over the next couple days.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:48 pm
by David M. Bueker
I have not been thrilled with the 2002 Haag wines.

Re: WTN: '07 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett

PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:00 pm
by Andrew Burge
David M. Bueker wrote:2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
This is lip smacking goodness. It's not the most profoundly complex expression of Riesling, but it is showing fine acid balance, especially for the (in my opinion) somewhat heavy 2007s, and the bright, citric fruit shows as only barely sweet. It's a great food wine that is also great to sip on its own. Drink soon for the pretty fruit and fine balance - it's too lovely to miss out.


This is one of my favourite tipples for similar reasons - its not especially complex, but it is lovely. Full of joy.

While September is now over, I must report I have managed to secure some 1979 Leo Buring DWI16 Eden Valley Riesling - one of the all time Australian Classics. Perfectly cellared since release. Salivating to try it again.

cheers
Andrew

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:05 pm
by David M. Bueker
It's not over here...yet.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:24 pm
by Andrew Bair
David M. Bueker wrote:Andrew - where in MA do you shop?



David - I mostly go to Marty's in Newton, Vintages and the Spirited Gourmet in Belmont, and Lower Falls Wine in Newton. Sometimes I go to Gordon's, Brookline Liquor Mart, The Wine Bottega, and the Wine and Cheese Cask, plus Table & Vine if I am in the area. Most of my German purchases probably come from Marty's.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:51 am
by Tim York
Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:WTN: `79 Jos. Christoffel Jr. Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, M-S-R.

What a great gift last Xmas from the girls at the Grill. Letting them try some of the wines from the cellar pays off! This Mosel is still available for $70 Cdn I think, nineteen bottles left I am told.

Pulling the cork was easy, still looked new and in great condition. 7.5% alc, A.P. Nr 2 602 144 4 80.
I let wine breathe for an hour and served nicely chilled. As the wine came from DeVines, I allowed the staff there to try a small glass, they were duely impressed when I served blind!

Color was a medium gold. On the nose, some lemon/citrus and white stonefruit. All thought the gasolein enhanced the wine and added to the character. The lovely aromatics did decline somewhat by late evening.
Initial entry thoughts were this is top notch! The terrific acidity balances the sweetness, honeysuckle on a long finish. "Great with Szechuan food" was a comment, "tropical fruit salad" another. Ripe apple and pear to my mind, not at all cloying. Very impressive indeed and one of the best German wines I have ever tasted.


Nice TN, Bob. That's what mature German Riesling, particularly Mosel, is all about. It would be a pity if this style were to decline as all the best grapes go into the GGs, etc.

Re: WTN: '07 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett

PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:33 am
by Bob Parsons Alberta
Andrew Burge wrote:
David M. Bueker wrote:2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
This is lip smacking goodness. It's not the most profoundly complex expression of Riesling, but it is showing fine acid balance, especially for the (in my opinion) somewhat heavy 2007s, and the bright, citric fruit shows as only barely sweet. It's a great food wine that is also great to sip on its own. Drink soon for the pretty fruit and fine balance - it's too lovely to miss out.


This is one of my favourite tipples for similar reasons - its not especially complex, but it is lovely. Full of joy.

While September is now over, I must report I have managed to secure some 1979 Leo Buring DWI16 Eden Valley Riesling - one of the all time Australian Classics. Perfectly cellared since release. Salivating to try it again.

cheers
Andrew


Go for it, waiting for your TN! Only entry-level here and on allocation too.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:02 am
by Robin Garr
GREAT month, guys! I'm "un-pinning" the thread now that October is here, but don't hesitate at all to wrap up threads or post notes past the deadline.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:51 am
by Bob Parsons Alberta
Tim York wrote:
Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:WTN: `79 Jos. Christoffel Jr. Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, M-S-R.

What a great gift last Xmas from the girls at the Grill. Letting them try some of the wines from the cellar pays off! This Mosel is still available for $70 Cdn I think, nineteen bottles left I am told.

Pulling the cork was easy, still looked new and in great condition. 7.5% alc, A.P. Nr 2 602 144 4 80.
I let wine breathe for an hour and served nicely chilled. As the wine came from DeVines, I allowed the staff there to try a small glass, they were duely impressed when I served blind!

Color was a medium gold. On the nose, some lemon/citrus and white stonefruit. All thought the gasolein enhanced the wine and added to the character. The lovely aromatics did decline somewhat by late evening.
Initial entry thoughts were this is top notch! The terrific acidity balances the sweetness, honeysuckle on a long finish. "Great with Szechuan food" was a comment, "tropical fruit salad" another. Ripe apple and pear to my mind, not at all cloying. Very impressive indeed and one of the best German wines I have ever tasted.


Nice TN, Bob. That's what mature German Riesling, particularly Mosel, is all about. It would be a pity if this style were to decline as all the best grapes go into the GGs, etc.


That is an interesting thought Tim. There are some other more recent vintages in the store from Christoffel so might have to visit when in-house PO is out of town next week. I also saw some 2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslesen.

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 6:33 am
by Tim York
Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote: There are some other more recent vintages in the store from Christoffel so might have to visit when in-house PO is out of town next week. I also saw some 2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslesen.


I seem to remember hearing around the turn of the century that the Chrisoffel estate was changing hands and there was then concern about the new owners. Perhaps one of the experts (David, Salil) can give a view on current performance?

Re: Wine Focus for September: Riesling

PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:56 am
by Salil
Tim: The Christoffel that Bob posted about hasn't changed hands as far as I know - that's still handled by Karl-Josef Christoffel. I haven't tried much from them (don't see them often in the US), but the few wines I've had were very good.

Another Christoffel - Joh. Jos. Christoffel (JJ) did change hands around 2001. It's now leased to Robert Eymael from Monchhof. 02 and '03 weren't my favourite years at JJ Christoffel, but in the last few years they've again been very consistent and impressive. Their Erdener Treppchen Spatlese has been a regular buy for me in the past few vintages, and I thought their overall collection in '08 was really good (particularly the Wurzgarten one-star Auslese and Treppchen Spatlese and two-star Auslese).