Tasting of Austria and Germany draws a crowd!

My local wine store asked me to help with this introductory tasting of German and Austrian white wines. 30 participants, lots of ladies too so fun night! Many had previous attendance at other events and seemed to know the ropes!!

`05 Rudolf Rabl Kaferberg Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal Austria.

I still have the brilliant `04. Aroma of wet stones, peach and grapefruit. Hint of straw at end of evening. Nice mouthfeel with minerals, peach and apricot. Keep for 2 yrs, $30.

`06 Vier Jahreszeiten Durkheimer Feuerberg Gewurztraminer Kabinett, Pfalz.

Nice, good character. Rose petals, nuts, lycee on nose. Honey, rose, spice, sweet, zippy finish. Advised this is good with asian food. $18.

`06 Hupfeld Hochheimer Konigin Victoriaberg Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau.

Think WOTN for many, flew off the shelf after tasting. $23 and good value I`d say. Good acidity here, long finish. Palate of apple, pear, lime. Thought nose was pretty closed up, went great with caramelised onion tart. Can see why so popular!

`04 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spatlese, M-S-R.

Medium straw color, soft acidity but long finish of apricots. Mineral elements here, some gasolein on nose. Palate was slate, citrus, apple. Wonder how this will turn out later? $20.

`05 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese, M-S-R.

Think David once mentioned many family members around this area. Not a big depth of color here, had an almost hint of spritz on entry. Know this is a great vintage but did not show true colors yet. Baked apple, lime and spice. I found some marzipan, honey, wet stones. $43, keep for years I think?

`76 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese, M-S-R.

What a lovely way to finish up, I have had other `76s but this tops the lot. $79 and only 6 bottles left but quickly flew out of the store.
WOTN for me! Big time dill on the nose with honey, dandelion. Honeysuckle on the finish and no sign of decline. Wonderful.

[David M. Bueker]

Nice tating Bob.

Those '05 Christoffel Auslesen are going to take a long time to show all they have. Might be a 20 year investment.

Thanks for the notes. I enjoyed some '76 Rieslings while living in Germany. Wish I had a few now but didn't keep any long term.

`06 Hupfeld Hochheimer Konigin Victoriaberg Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau.

Think WOTN for many, flew off the shelf after tasting. $23 and good value I`d say. Good acidity here, long finish. Palate of apple, pear, lime. Thought nose was pretty closed up, went great with caramelised onion tart. Can see why so popular!

Bob, this was Queen Vicki's WOTN many times too. She liked it so much that they named the vineyard after her complete with her statue!

Thanks,
Bill

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the notes - I envy you for your 1976 JJ Christoffel - I have only one bottle and they pretty hard to come by in Europe (except by begging at the Estate).

Aren't these old Germans lovely? What surprises me in your very precise and vivid description is: no mention of marzipan nor dried fruit, which I find nearly in all of them.

IF you should have the chance, try to find 1976 Saar wines ... from any maker, even from Ayler Genossenschaft and totally unknown ones. You will get the same dill, etc. with a smokey note and a zest of candied lime. That taste is like crack (I suppose) for others.

J

PS: 2004 are closing down - your description of the Haag Juffer matches that. Please take also into account that in 2004, Will Haag was still using many casks (they - unfortunately - abandoned that only in 2006). Cask aging makes wines sometimes taste weird in their youth.

Aren't these old Germans lovely? What surprises me in your very precise and vivid description is: no mention of marzipan nor dried fruit, which I find nearly in all of them.

Yeah, problem was that only a 2oz pour and I am trying to assist in the tasting. Too much admin going on!!!