Dr. Heger Achkarrer Schlossberg
Spätburgunder *** Spätlese trocken
"Grosses Gewächs" Barrique 2003
Baden, Germany
Made from vines over 40 years old..it spent 20 months in 'barrique' It is no surprise that this wine is excellent..but the surprise is the lightness of style for the vintage. Even the best have a weight to them..it was very hot in 2003! 
Enticing but discrete aroma...a light classy fruit crosses the lips..lively soft tannins dance on the tongue...ripe fruit fills the mouth..soft smoke rises from the palate..this is a Dancing Queen of a wine. I still have one bottle..but for how long?
Points 18The plant was a present just before Xmas...an ugly duckling at the time..now look at her..'I'm A Swan, I'm A Swan' (Hans Christian Anderson)
The last couple of days have meant late decisions as what to drink. The cellar is cooler than normal..due the minus temperatures...hence my choice of the 'Pinot' grape...
J.J.Adeneuer Spätburgunder trocken 2006Ahr, GermanyThe basic wine from a most reliable grower..this was the last of a mixed bunch I had purchased.The basic wine of any winemaker should be good and well-priced. Drink this with anyone..and you will be happy with it's clean, juicy fruit. No pretentions..juts good honest wine.
Knipser Riesling Auslese Trocken Halbstück 2003Rheinland-Pfalz, GermanyWith a light salad on the menu..I really fancied a ripe Riesling.This wine had pleased many times...but was corked.
Quickly down to the cellar again...hmmm.. let's try a 
Spätburgunder.Fritz Waßmer Spätburgunder 'R' 2004Baden, GermanyLovely nose & soft velvety palate. This wine is more Burgundian than a Dijon Mustard.The late night reading was the new 'Weinwelt' magazine...and opening the first page was an article about Albert Kallfelz, a Mosel grower,winning a court case after 9 years. He had lost 37.000 bottles of 1996 & 1997 wine.The company responsible for the corks had to pay out € 136.000.The final comment in the article was that it would not happen too often on this scale..as it was always difficult to prove.Reichsgraf & Marquis zu HoensbroechSpätburgunder Spätlese trocken 2003Baden, Germany
Next day...I decided to try a bottle that I received as a Xmas present. It had been sent by an appointedmerchant....and he is selling it for around € 25,--. Maybe he thought he could get rid of it..because..it is awful. Imagine some hard-boiled sweets...fermented in water...it was pale & thin. The 'full-bodied' description on their webpage is *****!!! Good job I am not giving points on this particular post.Quick decision....a half-bottle...
Ziereisen Blauer Spätburgunder SelectionRhini 2004Baden, GermanyThis half bottle is softening down...no doubt by the last bottle..it will be perfect.I had been surfing the net about a possible purchase of a Russian River Chardonnay.Two hours later I received an email 'spam' titled'Holy smokes! The bats will stay at Russian River Vineyards.'Nothing against the bats..what worries me about the net is the speed a mere 'google' somehow passed on my email information. I know Big Brother may be watching us...but now Little Sister is in on the act.
After all this 'winey' activity we were off to a 60th Birthday party...fancy dress....Barry The Kid! There was not going to be wine available (not true..but you know what i mean) and the music to be played I had prepared..so I needed to keep a clear mind. I ended up drinking 4 bottles of water..which as any doctor will tell you..is very healthy.It was a great night..and the music...from the 50's, 60's and 70's went down very well. Back in the day Rap was a talk-in intro to a song..not an excuse for someone who can't sing! Hip-Hop was what the rabbits did to each other. It was 2am before we left....and I woke with a 'musical' headache....
The Bonzai plant as background is really appropriate..the reason being that I was looking for information about the wine and stumbled on a Blog from Japan. Written in English, although as the Blogger states, his master of the language is not great. I remember the early days in Germany...learning to speak German...and having people smile as I made amusing mistakes. I now speak it probably 95% perfect..but still say something funny.So..I am entitled to be amused by our Japanese Wine Lover's notes....but..reading between the lines..you know that he loves wine....and I have added him to my links.
Domaine de Montcalmes Rouge 2005Coteaux du Languedoc, FranceThe wine is made from 75% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. The parcelles and varietals are vinified separately, and the wine undergoes 24 months elevage in barrique, with the Grenache being transferred back to stainless steel after the first 12 months.The slightly wild smell of the Languedoc...forest fruits..herbs..pepper & tobacco...and some dark olives. The tannins are medium tight..with a soft bite into the wild fruit...reminded me in style of a Côte Rôtie.Points 17
After obtaining one of the winners of this year's Pinot Cup, Wegelin ..
I managed to get 6 bottles of the other. A week later I took a bottle along to a restaurant where we tried diverse food and the wine did not show well..so...this is it's second chance...
Knab Endinger Engelsberg Spätburgunder *** 2006 Baden, Germany
First impressions..cherry nose with almonds...the palate showed thick bitter cherries...but this became a little less as it evolved in the glass. Medium tannin grip and a fresh acidity will help it age well...at the moment not the 'winner' it was voted...but let's give it another go in a year. In style..more southern Burgundy...certainly elegant...and whereas many Spätburgunder wines match up well with most foods...you need to be choosy with this one...it's temperamental.
Points 17
In this chilly (sorry about the pun) climate..white wine is not an obvious choice..but needs must with a light fish dish.Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2005Casablanca Valley, ChileVery layed-back in a French style...stones & minerals to the fore...complex..a 'mexican wave' of flavours..one moment cream & butter(aged in French oak)..then pear flavour..then the minerals. It's been a year or more since I last tried this...and the oakiness has mellowed...an 'interesting' wine to drink.. with something new developing at ever visit to the glass.Points 16.5
Look closely at the label...not a lot there..don't bother turning it around...
nothing out the back door.OK..so we Googlers check the net..Nada!As it was a gift over the festive season..no information there either.Neus 2003Castilla y Leon, Spain
First impression..raw, slightly burnt smell...then spices developed....then a more intense blackcurrant. An earthy style...dry tannins...and a swig of acidity. My guess is there is some Cabernet Sauvignon in there.Left half the bottle to try next day.....and it showed much softer..rounded flavour...no edges...and again..some CS in there....not bad. Will I ever know more...?Points 16
Our eldest daughter just got back from a 5 week holiday in Goa and India. The three of us met up at our local Bistro..we should have been 4..but her hubby had a 'funny tummy'..after the trip..(can't call it a 'holiday!!!). Streets filled with trash, cockroaches in most hotels, dirty sheets...the food was OK..but ever 7 days they had a dose of Montezumas Revenge! What she needed was a decent meal and some red wine.The two bottles I took along....first one up...
Agostino Pavia Moliss Barbera d'Asti 2005Piedmont, ItalyMoliss (a Piedmontese word, not Italian) is a single vineyard wine, old vines, matured in large oak ovals, the closest thing to a tradional Asti but cleaner and much more concentrated.If you purchased this wine, even at restaurant mark-up you would be happy. Lots of firm manly fruit...bound by a loose grip of tannins in some soft oak. Easy to drink and pair with any food.A poor man's Barolo...they used to call it..but Barbera should be searched out whenever available.Points 16.5
I got a few Xmas presents in the form of wine. One came from the owner of out favourite holiday restaurant 'Rebstock'..of which there are many posts on the blog. I presume on our next visit the wine will be on the list.Laible Durbacher PlauelrainSpätburgunder Spätlese trocken 2004Baden, GermanyThis is a 'Großes Gewächs'Known for his excellent Riesling...Laible does devote some time to the old SB. This is the first I have had...but as it was from Herr Hodapp..I knew it would be good....and good it was.An enthralling aroma of strawberries in hay (strawberries in straw would be overdoing it)...like ripples on a stream..the gentle fruit covers this medium weighted goodie. You have to keep going back for another whiff. No tannin to write home about..although there is still grip and maybe this will hold 5-10 years....but there is really no chance of that...its too enticing. A really delicious bottle...Points 17.25
A World Premier post..no tasting notes on this wine on the net.....no..not a long lost wine..or a new cult 
monster....just a first from the Doc...called Black Dog. It's a Cuvée from his best barrels of Frühburgunder & Spätburgunder..both of which I have tried recently. Crusius doesn't make expensive reds..that's not what he aims for. This new project costs around € 14,-- and would convince anyone who ever said this price range for German reds does not please. It will only be released in special years.
Dr. Crusius Black Dog 2007Nahe, GermanySpring flowers spring from the glass...then a sweet oak..Rioja-like..following by a more elegant aroma...the palate shows definite traces of liquorice and a juicy sour cherry flavour. A fine tannin cloak surrounds the attractive fruit...I drank this direct from the cellar...so a little cooler than usual. Difficult not to like...which is what we all search for in wine.Points 16.5
Herdade do Esporão, Esporão Reserva 2007
Alentejo, PortugalMade from the local varieties Antão Vaz, Roupeiro and Arinto. At first there is a grapefruit-like freshness..but as the wine opens...peaches, melons...Pamela Anderson..oops...sorry ladies..my mind is wandering...not that I am a fan of her..or hers in this case..and she probably doesn't know how to hold a wine glass..she maybe just balances the vessel on one of them as she cooks for her 'man'...anyway...where were we?...ah yes...melons
....Aged in new American oak...which is more than we can say for Pamela...this is sweet & juicy without ever starting to cloy as there is excellent acidity in there. Plenty of cream..similar to Pamela.... and quite complex for the price..which she isn't. Sorry Pammy...I promise to write a more positive post about you in the future.Points...now..my fingers want to type a comment here...but this is a family blog..Points 16.25
The Donaldson family were one of the pioneers of this very special area just one hour’s car ride north of Christchurch. The area comprises a narrow valley protected on the east and west by mountain ranges. The soils are a mix of clay, limestone, glacial deposits and gravels.
Styles were so varied..but most were like sucking a gooseberry or drinking a glass of cat's pee....this precarious road...I decided not to travel for a while....and found my heaven in Italy or France. A recent tasting in England gave the Pinot Noir 5 Stars..which I can identify with..but also this mix had been awarded the same...
