Pinot Tasting

And so to the promised tasting..we were to be 5.....Volker & Steffi, Robert, myself..and Axel....but poor old Axel had a migrane the day before..and was advised not to drink. If I was told not to drink wine..I would get a headache as well! The planned free-roaming chicken for the main course..was a bit whiffy..so lamb was obtained at the last minute. All the above happened before I arrived....
A salad with beef carpaccio was served with a white...we had to guess...certainly Sauvignon Blanc..can't imagine this being New Zeeland....smoky...medium fruit..reserved gooseberry...not overdone and a good length. If only all SB's were this well-balanced.
Points 16.5
The bottle was produced...
Eichholz Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Jenins, Graubünden, Switzerland
..and I mentioned I had had the Pinot Noir not long ago. This is a very good grower...Irene Grünenfelder..in Switzerland.
On doing this posting..I realised I had also tried the 2006 of this wine.


We then received a list of the 4 Pinot Noir wines we would be tasting...

Eichholz Irene Grünenfelder Pinot Noir 2006
Jenins, Graubünden, Switzerland

Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur 2006
Premier Cru Les Chaumes
Vosne-Romanee, Burgundy, France

Weingut Christmann Spätburgunder 2005
Grosses Gewächs IDIG
Gimmeldingen, Pfalz, Germany

Gesellmann Pinot Noir SIGLOS 2005
Mittelburgenland, Austria

The wines had been decanted and the order changed.....so we not only had to comment and mark...but try to nail down the correct area. The wines were tasted with the food..and alone later..













Wine A
Gesellmann Pinot Noir SIGLOS 2005
Mittelburgenland, Austria
Light-medium with pale rim...clear aroma, sweet berry..cinnamon and marzipan...developed in the glass..fresh cherries..elegant, soft tannins..spicy back palate..very good
Points 17.25 Group Points 17
I thought this was the Swiss wine....







Wine B
Eichholz Irene Grünenfelder Pinot Noir 2006
Jenins, Graubünden, Switzerland
Colour more gradual..cherry red.....soft, sour cherry sprang from the glass..some toffee..a little coffee..well-integrated attractive acidity keeping this lively..a touch of eucalyptus..then the grip of soft tannins...very nicely packaged..a real pleasure and will age well over the next 7-8 years.
Points 17.75 Group Points 17.7
I thought this was the the German wine..due mainly maybe to the previous day's wine...Knipser from the Pfalz.
as stated above..I had this in July..and marked it better here...as I said..will improve


Wine C
Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur 2006
Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru Les Chaumes
Vosne-Romanee, Burgundy, France
Quite deep in comparison to the previous wines...good grip..nose of cherry..touch of mushroom..tobaco..some vegetables..acidity quite dominant..tight tannins...a difficult time to appraise this wine..but the components are all there..and a constant changing as it developed in the glass.
Points 17 at the moment.... Group Points 17.25
try this in 5 years and it will probably be the winner
No problem guessing this was the French wine....




Wine D
Weingut Christmann Spätburgunder 2005
Grosses Gewächs IDIG
Gimmeldingen, Pfalz, Germany
Pale rimmed....we all thought this must be the Austrian...influenced as well by knowing the price. Sweet..maybe contrived..strawberry smell..this probably suffered after the three previous wines having more character and depth. Fresh acidity..not a bad wine by any means..just a little 'lightweight' alongside it's cousins
Points 16 Group Points 16
maybe if we had drank this on it's own..it would have faired better.
We guessed this to be the Austrian.



We all marked pretty much the same..and all thought the order as I did. The French was a certainty. The surprise came when the Austrian was revealed..costing half of the Swiss and German wines and a quarter of the Burgundy. I must admit...I was surprised.
The total points winner was the Swiss wine........

Finished?...no chance..with a dessert..we were served a half bottle of...
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr 2007
Riesling Auslese
Mosel, Germany
A dessert wine..but with only 7.5% alcohol..so no 'sweetie' in that respect. There is lively acidity hitting back the rich fruit balls thrown at it. Aromas of quince..exotic smells..very juicy...and a whole heap of minerals...you can down this easily before you know it...this is what the German growers are expert at...perfect Restsüsse.
Points 17.25......others marked slightly higher....maybe my cigar was distracting me.
A great evening....