The Last Rhini

What better way to spend an evening...your favourite white grape and your favourite red grape..and your best friend Volker.
The original plan was our usual quartet...at our local Bistro...but two cried off at short notice.
I decided the 1999 Grüner should be tried....but was wary...10 years old...so...being the realist...and ALWAYS prepared...I took along a 'substitute'...as it turned out...a wise choice!!!
I had recently purchased a LARGE mixed case of all vintages of Grüner Veltliners...and all have been very good indeed...this 1999 was the oldest though....
Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Ried Käferberg 1999
Kamptal, Austria
A trace of oxidation...then a swirl..and you aren't sure..then it is back..and some definite caramel....not a NO NO drink...but also not one you want to fight your way through when you want a pleasant evening. Re-cork it...Volker will use it when he is next in the kitchen.



A quick pull of the cork...and we had an Italian...which should go well with the Pasta starter (along with some fried liver slices..and well-spiced)
Luciano Sandrone
Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore 2006
Piemont, Italy
Some truffles...and almonds..even marzipan..and was a definite food wine...just perfect..but seemed to miss the Pasta..and flattened off...
Points 16





During our starter...Volker mentioned a tasting we took part in...around 2005 I think. It was organized by our local wine merchant and friend...Robert.
Sixteen people had been invited...and each had to bring a bottle of Pinot Noir / Spätburgunder (this had been done a few days in advance...so as to be able to prepare them)
The guests were split up into 4 groups of 4...each group being designated 4 covered-up bottles. Each group had a captain...who could decide should there be a 'tie'...I was 'chief' our my group...which...as you will see...was important for 'my' wine. Each group had to choose two wines to go into the next round...that would be 8 wines..then the whole 16 guests would evaluate them again..and give them points to decide the winner etc...
My group found a definite winner...but the 2nd choice...now...on tasting the wines...I knew that Robert had put 'my' bottle in my group...and...being captain...but not saying I knew...I convinced the group that 'it' should get another chance. And so it progressed...but as it happened...it only made 7th or 8th in the final reckoning.
Now...as I said...Volker mentioned the tasting...which was very X-Files...as the covered bottle I had brought along...was the wine from back then.
I had bought a few bottles...and the last one had hit me for six!!!...and so to the VERY last bottle...
To be fair...only the last time I tried it in mid-2009...had it really opened and was in full bloom.
Ziereisen Blauer Spätburgunder
Selection Rhini 2002
Baden, Germany
Medium colour, light, browning rim; nose exhudes ripe smokey Pinot...you just had to keep going back again & again...gorgeous sweet flavour...smokey strawberries?....perfectly balanced, the fruit just filled the mouth..
Points 18