Four From Germany

My wife and I are beginning to explore German rieslings. I’ve only posted one note on a German wine which was for the 1989 Max Richter, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Riesling Spatlese. I don’t have the vocabulary nor the experience yet for good notes but I figure I’d stumble through it. I’ve only had one recent Spatlese so I don’t yet know what to thin in terms of quality. We’ll try a few more this week then rethink the Schafer-Frohlich. In terms of the 2006 Kabinetts, we preferred the Leitz than the Selbach followed by the Gysler. They also seem to have significant amounts of acidity.

2005 Schafer-Frohlich, Bockenhauer Felseneck, Riesling Spatlese, Nahe – $30
A vibrant, light-straw in the glass. A light mineraly, floral nose of riesling. In the mouth there is petroleum sweetness, moderate acidity in the back end. It is a round wine with a subtle, fresh core. It might need some age or perhaps a touch more acidity?

2006 Leitz, Rudesheimer Klosterlay, Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau – $18
Accordingly to the Terry Theise catalog the Klosterlay vineyards are mixed with slate. Very light color in the glass. A light, slightly sweet fresh nose. In the mouth it is immediately round with a sweet attack. This is followed by a minerally mid-palate and moderate acidity. An enjoyable wine that put on weight the second day and more fruit & sweetness than the Gysler and Selbach.

2006 Gysler, Weinheimer, Riesling Kabinett, Rheinhessen – $17
Apparently this is less tart than than usual. I found a similar color to the Leitz. In the mouth immediate acidity on the tongue. This is followed by fruit in the middle, somewhat apple-like in tartness that develop into riesling flavors. There is a crisp, zesty, lemon-like finish.

2006 Selbach, Riesling “Fish Label”, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer – $12
Again, a similar lightness of color as in the Leitz. Sparkly acidity on the tongue, with some herbal quality. A bit more body than the Gysler. I found the vibrancy enjoyable.
Enjoy!

Aaron

Wines from Portugal, France, and Spain

I haven’t posted any notes in several weeks because two and a half weeks ago my wife and I had a baby girl. Needless to write these 2+ weeks have flown by leaving little time to post my notes. We’re settling down some so here are some notes!

2002 Jorge Moreira, Poeira, Duoro – $15
Other vintages of this wine has been mentioned in the past. It was hard to resist the close out price on this lesser vintage. This is a blend of 30 different varietals located across 4 parcels that were formerly used for port. The 70 year old vines are primarily Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Souzao, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao, Tinta Amarela, and Tinta Roriz. They are crushed by foot in stone lagares and fermented in barrel. The wine is then aged for 16 months in new and 1 year old French oak. In the glass it is red with purple highlights. It has a light nose that revealed blue fruits with air. There are sour red cherries with cedar/oak followed by soft, very fine elegant tannins. The finish is short. It is a soft wine with no underlying complexity. I wouldn’t buy this vintage again.

2000 Chateau Charmes-Godard, Cotes de Francs – $12
I needed a foil for the Poeira. There is a light nose of berries and cedar. In the mouth there are one-dimensional berry flavors, sour cherry, and cedar. It is a simple, light-bodied wine. In comparison the Poeira had better fruit but the Charmes-Godard had the better finish.

2005 Vinyes i Vins Ca Sa Padrina, Manto Negro, Binissalem-Mallorga – $15
This is a blend of Manto Negro, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. In the glass is is ruby red with light to medium opacity. There are red and blue fruits with spice on the nose and in the mouth. There is a fruity/acidity/tannin burst when first in the mouth. This is followed by a bit of grip from the oak. A well made, rather modern wine that could come from anywhere.

2005 Pago del Vicario, Penta, Tiera de Castilla – $16
The Pago del Vicario winery grew from a project by brother Antonio and Ignacio Barco in 2000. They have 130 ha of vineyards. The Penta wine is produced to be intense in flavor, with short barrel aging, and to appeal to a wide variety. This is a blend of 55% Tempranillo, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 8% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. It is aged for 5 months in French oak. In the glass it is ruby with some purple and medium opacity. In the mouth there are initial blue fruits and mineral, with a supple mouth feel. It is a medium-bodied wine that is refreshing. It has good acidity and fine tannins that become assertive at the end. Compared to the 2006 Cellar Can Blau the Penta has riper fruit with a touch more suppleness. Both my wife and I would drink both wines again, giving slight preference to the Cellar Can Blau

Best,

Aaron