Warning For Wine Bloggers!

Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'

She got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.

She's such a bitch.....

Horses For Courses

Fresh horseradish sauce..in winter..is not for the faint-hearted. You don't make small-talk when eating it...or you'll end up gasping. A beer is the only solution.
In the summer months..my wife 'fakes' it...makes a sauce and adds the sachet of grated horseradish. As it is milder..I came up with the idea that if a Riesling is ideal for Asian..why not this?. I ain't crazy you know..and it works.

















Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst
Riesling Kabinett 2007
Mosel, Germany
I am not an apple eater...but liquid apples are fine. Like a ripe apple with pleasant juicy acidity and some exotic fruits. It worked wonderfully with the meal..very gulpable..only 8% alcohol...if I had tasted this blind..I would have guessed more..but after 2/3 bottle..it seems to cloy a little...it's a wine that many would take to..but for a Kabinett ...it contradicts itself just a little....no 'trocken' on the label...so maybe I am doing it an injustice.
Points 15.5 € 11.50
Years ago....all German labels looked like this one....

The following evening..the rest of the Horse stuff..see...I don't get special treatment..leftovers..mind you..always excellent ones..
After the 'sweetie'..I looked for something 'dryer'.....

















Rainer Schnaitmann Riesling ** trocken 2007
Württemberg, Germany
Young grower...1997 was his first vintage...
Racy style....short at first..but filled out with airing...peachy tones...STAYS trocken throughout...the acidity poking at your tongue...this has 12.5% alcohol..again..blind tasting it..I would not have known. Lots of minerals..I sat out until late...only a few drops left...
Points 16 € 11.50
Since I started out tasting these 2007 Rieslings..it has been an eye-opener...so many styles....intriguing to say the least.

Sexy Snails

Two snails mating in the garden....ah..back in the days..they would have ended in the pan.........the French ate everything...this time they were 'disposed' of........
The sight of copulating was not the reason to open a sexy Pinot Noir.....a recent article in 'Wein Gourmet'..all about the Graubünden area of Switzerland..had meant I ordered a 3 bottle set from Eichholz...owner is Irene Grünenfelder who started out in 1995...and learned at George Schlegel's vineyard..and was advised by the King Of Switzerland..Gantenbein. The other two bottles are a Pinot Noir 'Eichholz' 2006..the big brother of the one below..and a Sauvignon Blanc 2007. All were highly recommended by the magazine.

Weingut Grünenfelder Pinot Noir 2006
Jenins, Graubünden, Switzerland
Shiny cherry red...light purple rim....intense spicy plum nose at first....then strong cassis...quite dominant....very up-front. More elegance on the palate...feminine style..touch of sour cherries...mineral notes..charming
Points 17...looking forward to trying the top wine 'Eichholz'

Call Me Don

I am a godfather (The Don Corleone of Wine?)...2 times actually..one is my niece in England..and the other is here in Germany..Merle is her name...'little stinky'(my name for her)..is on the right. She and her sister (Lisa)...and their parents..came over and we barbecued....wonderful evening..fascinating to see youngsters evolve..Merle is 2 years 'older' than her birth certificate..and understands my wicked sense of humour..no choice really..I was 'chosen' before she ever got asked. The parents Christiane and Flo..like wine...and a bottle of the Zalwander followed the white...
Dönnhoff Weissburgunder trocken 2007
Nahe, Germany
I have to be honest..I am not a big fan of the grape in Germany...nice wines..but usually leave me saying...don't ring us..we'll ring you! Nice to say then..that this was delicious. Soft and creamy..quite full..with an elegant style..and nice acidity..keeping it lively..minerals evolve on the tongue...perfect for a warm summer evening.
Points 16.25 € 11.50

The Three R's

The three R's..back in school..used to be Reading, (W)riting & (A)rithmatic.
More to my liking nowadys are Rheingau, Rebholz & R...which means this is a Grosses Gewächs.
Rebholz is a dynamic young grower....probably the best in the Pfalz...
NB: Background to the wine is a new book 'Weinatlas Deutschland'...as far as I know only in German as yet....essential....the best book on German wine..hopefully an English version will become available for you 'foreigners'.
Ökonomierat Rebholz Spätburgunder 'R' 2003
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
This spent 20 months in new French and Pfälzer oak.
Spicy....sour cherries and cream on the nose...clear spicy fruit is the first taste impression....thick for a Spätburgunder...intensive, dark,even brooding..showing it's muscles....on the palate..quite soft though..but very firm tannins...my guess I am catching this when it is just becoming drinkable...a whiff of mushrooms..this reminded me of some of the mid-Spain reds....very untypical compared to any other Pinot's from Germany.
Points 17.75..but will no doubt get better and better

A Sheep, A Dog & Crazy Joe

We GBWT's (Great Blogging Wine Tasters) all have good taste...we know what a good wine is...but once in a while..we agree to differ...
How can I explain better..let try this..
I love women...(sorry darling..liked)...no..it won't work unless I say love...men love women...but we all have our own taste...actually..some women love women..and some men love men...this is getting confusing...and then there are sheep...
Which reminds me of a story.
Shipwrecked..a man, a sheep & a sheepdog find themselves on a desert island.
They live happily together for a few weeks. One night..on the beach..as the sun goes down..the man has urges...he moves over to the sheep and puts his arm round it...a loud Grrrrrrr from the dog makes him quickly remove it. He tries again over the next couple of night..no luck. A few weeks later..another ship goes down nearby..and a woman arrives on the island. Now..at this part of the story..you can add your own example...mine..here in Germany..is Dolly Dollar..a blown up Barby..with fish lips and Michelin tyre breasts..you get the picture?. Anyway..she arrives..and they all live happily together for a few days. One night..yes..you've guessed it....beach, sun....etc.. and the man turns to the woman and says...
'Dolly..I have been here a while..and a man has urges...I haven't had sex for ages...can I ask a favour?'. Dolly's eyes light up..'Yes, how can I help?.. 'Well', says the man..'would you mind taking the dog for a walk?!!'
How does it end?...The dog and Dolly run off together ( swim actually)..the others are rescued by a Captain Shepherd..who also takes a fancy to the sheep....and the man..well..he starts writing a blog about wine.
Which brings me nicely back to the start...
Crazy Joe drank a wine a while ago..an Aligoté.. or as I called it..an Ali Goat..but we've had sheep so I'll stop here.
He loved it...gave it 18 points...I bought 1000 bottles (fibbing here..was only 12)...I tried a couple of bottles..ended up in hospital ( fibbing again)...and after cooking most of it..now have only one left in my cellar. If the sheep hadn't run off..I'd have used it to marinate...
His 'woman' was not my taste in this case.
Joe recently posted about a wine..another 18 pointer...which I was able to purchase...( see..I never lost faith in him)
Chateau La Nerthe Blanc 2004
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone
Full notes are here....JOE...
A blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Clairette, most of which are rarely seen outside of France. Its haunting nose changed constantly over the evening, with notes of creamy custard, quince, lychee, spring flowers, lemon peel, wet stones and some gentle oakiness – an interesting greenness (wet ferns?) as well. Stunning on the palate – opulent, with a nice oily texture, lemony cream flavours and a nice bitter finish – so unusual, I'd almost use "rustic" if the wine wasn't SO elegant and polished.
I would only add that I caught some freshly peeled walnuts on the nose...and I love Rousanne..(that's a grape darling...so put down that frying pan!)
A delicious wine....Joe is back on my Xmas list..and I won't tease him again about the goat.
Points 17.75
PS...If Joe liked this so much..then I have no hesitation in recommending a woman Hildegard

Doing The Dont's

In the world of wine..there are DO'S & DONT'S...
One DO is....Do give Barry a good wine if he visits you!
DONT'S include....Don't offer him Aligoté (sorry Joe..hee hee).

One definite DON'T is...when you receive a case of wine and open it..DON'T decide to drink the bottle a few hours later. It's not fair to the wine....
So..there I was...looking for a white to go with oven chicken in a creamy paprika sauce.
I needed a break from the Rieslings...and there was this white..potentially soft and creamy( like the sauce)...so...
Look..before you start criticizing....ask yourself this....have you ever done it?
I rest my case......
Anyway...only reds suffer after a journey..whites are more sturdy(see how I am convincing you & me)...so I popped the cork.
Yes yes...I know..I am like a kid at Christmas when a package arrives.
Schloss Halbturn Imperial Weiss 2005
Burgenland Neusiedlersee, Austria
Drive into the village of Halbturn...at the 2^nd set of traffic lights turn right...then the next left..
you can't miss the building..it's a castle!(Schloss).
Graf zu Königsegg (Marcus to you & me) has invested $$$$. They produce some reds which I have yet to try..and this cuveé from Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc. The wine spends 14 months in part new/part used Barrique.
Medium-pale colour...an instant aroma of flowery honey..cream and smoky tones....but delicate...no overdone oak here. The Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect foil for big sister Chardonnay. Palate was perfect..the creaminess...touch of rosted flavours...plenty of finesse here...and a good spicy finish. Perfect now...but this could evolve.
Points 17.25 € 20

Magpies & Rosé

A couple of magpies visit us about the same time every evening. They are known to be attracted by silver things. They are welcome to stick around..as long as they don't land on my head!
On ordering the mixed case of whites..I promised myself I wouldn't make up the case with ANY red. True to myself..I sneaked a Rosé in there as a compromise.Me..drinking Rosé...if you don't tell anybody...I won't either.

Schlossgut Diel
Rosé de Diel Pinot Noir
Nahe, Germany
The complete grapes are pressed in making this
Rosé...and the best of the top vineyard Cuveé Caroline are used. It has a flowery freshness...racy fruit..cherries and wild berries...touch of acceptable acidity...creamy texture and minerals. A serious Rosé for Spätburgunder drinkers who keep their word to themselves.
Points 16 € 14

Not much on the front label...so you get to see Rosie's rear!

Sons Of Haag

After the Lieser..with one of Wilhem Haag's sons...here is his own vineyard now run by son Oliver Haag who has taken over from father and the quality has continued. He learned by Helmut Dönnhoff in the Nahe...not a bad schooling!
This is from the Juffer vineyard..the Juffer Sonnenuhr is still waiting for a cork pull....
Fritz Haag Brauneberg Juffer
Riesling Kabinett 2007
Mosel, Germany
Elegant style...dry Kabinett compared to some of the recent wines...aromatic...dances over the tongue..8.5% alcohol meant this bottle emptied quickly...vibrant wine...that started out with pear and grapes on the nose..less spritz than the Lieser...clean finish with just the right amount of sweetness.
Points 16.25 € 11

Liking Lieser

After a hard day..some cold ham with GREEN asparagus( my favourite over the white variety) was quickly prepared..and to save myself going to get the corkscrew...amidst the various Rieslings waiting to be tasted in my cellar..the screw-cap bottle was chosen. Opened and poured.....even we wine-freaks can do things simple when needs be.
This Estate is one of the new stars of the Mosel.
The winemaker at Schloss Lieser, and since about 1994 the owner as well, is none other than Wilhelm Haag's eldest son Thomas (Wilhelm Haag is the elder statesman of the Fritz Haag estate, one of Germany's most elite estates.)
Schloss Lieser Riesling Kabinett 2007
Mosel, Germany
Blind tasting it....well..if I had..I might have thought Asti Spumanti at first.
Let me explain...there is a slight 'spritz' to the wine....the bouguet showed slate minerals..and then the flavour surprises you. Clear broad fruit...mouth-tingling minerals again...citrus fruits..flint and stones...considerably more richness than the Kabinett designation implies.This borders on Spätlese level, at 90º Oeschle. The 9% alcohol means this is very gulpable and a perfect match for the green asparagus...and would be superb with Asian food.
Points 16 but check the price € 9

Heger versus Heger

Joachim Heger of Dr.Heger wines took over the 'Weinhaus Heger' in 1986 and produces wines from vineyards grown on loess and loam soil. They are different wines to the 'Mother Weingut' where the Spätburgunder is grown on vulcanic rock.
Heger Spätburgunder
Auslese *** 2003
Baden, Germany
This spends 15 months in barrique which surprised me as it is very fruit driven..no doubt down to the soil it's grown on. The auslese wines are from old vines...hence the ***. This has a soft mushroom nose at first...some exotic spices..then clear dark fruit..mainly cherries...then a touch of cream sets in..that's the barrique..but as I said...the fruit is dominant..dry chalky tannins and a slightly burnt aroma which may be down to the hot vintage. An interesting wine as I am a big fan of Dr.Heger's wines and this was a commendable comparison.
Points 17.25

Peaceful Easy Feeling

Some wines remind me of music.....
and as I drank this I thought of the
'Eagles – Peaceful Easy Feeling'
Helmut Dönnhoff is one of the 2
top growers on the Nahe..
wines of elegance and finesse.

Dönnhoff Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg
Riesling trocken 2007
Nahe, Germany
This is a downgraded Spätlese...and was given 3 hours airing....





Medium deep yellow..with sparkling green tinges....a bouquet of apricots..some ripe citrus fruits..later a touch of wild raspberry..and lovely minerally aroma....all this continues onto the palate..the acidity bounces over the tongue..flinty...and the minerality is just perfect.
Drink it now or over the next 5 years....that 'Peaceful Easy Feeling' will remain with you.
Points 17 € 20

Grauburgunder Highway

The simple things in life can
be very pleasing...fresh bread,
some Black Forest ham and
green asparagus in a
walnut vinaigrette.

After a few wines from the
Riesling Route..I decided to
take the Highway to
Grauburgunder....




Emrich-Schönleber Grauburgunder S trocken 2007
Nahe, Germany
Creamy vanilla first up out of a large glass...ripe peaches with raisiny touch...the palate was quite full..but still showing finesse...spicy...gentle peachy fruit...acidity nicely integrated here...and for the price..quite complex.
Points 16.5 € 14

Havana Pleasure

I am a non-smoker...and as my wife gave up 10 years ago..no one is allowed to smoke in the house. When the evenings are warmer...after a meal..out in the garden...once in a while..I treat myself to a good Havana cigar...my choice is light and easy..Hoyo de Monterrey...anything stronger and I'd get high!The children came round..brought Sushi with them.

Binki is heading for 50..actually 44...but time does fly by quickly....I tell her.
Snoozy is looking for a man at the local supermarket...she has hit the big 40...and that may be the reason for the change of tactics.The sushi was good...and in case you are wondering why I am waffling..well..the white wine comments hardly fill a posting...
Christmann Gimmeldinger
Riesling trocken 2007
Pfalz, Germany
The usual comments...crisp, elegant, youthful austerity...reserved acidity..but this one was not going to pop it's head up and say..like me now....I found it very ordinary...and just a touch too dry with the fruit available. I guess this young Riesling search is gonna be swings and roundabouts..and down to personal styles.

Points 15 € 10
But there was that cigar....

Spotless Teenager

The estate is located in the town of Bacharach in the Mittelrhein wine-growing region in Germany. It was founded in 1982 by Dr. Randolf Kauer and Martina Kauer. The vineyard area totals slightly more than three hectares, mostly on steep slopes, spread over the communes Bacharach (Kloster Fürstental, Wolfshöhle), Oberdiebach (Fürstenberg), Oberwesel (Oelsberg) and Urbar (Beulsberg).
Kauer Oberweseler Oelsberg
Riesling Spätlese trocken 2007
Mittelrhein, Germany
Ah ha...this is more like it..and what I had hoped for with the vintage.
Aromas of apricots and juicy apples..lazy, hazy citrus fruits..minerals and some intensity.....smells like a winner. More apricots on the palate, some peach..real lively acidity..but..hurray..so easy to accept with that whole bowl of fruit covering it. Herbs and a gentle sweetness tie this one up..and the 13% alcohol you just never notice. A teenager without spots that will develope into a tasty young lady! Roll on the next one...
Points 17.25 € 13