Thursday, October 31, 2013

Coravin



I have a new 'tool'...which hopefully will only be full of plusses for little old me.
When I wrote on a forum that I was thinking of purchasing it...there were replies of...

'Don't you have friends to share a bottle?'
Regular readers of my blog will know I do...but some blog-noted wines you read about...end up in a goulash or something similar. My wife can't drink...and my friends have lives of their own. My daily intake is approximately a half-bottle...and while some wines will improve overnight...with maybe a place in the fridge...it has never been a solution for me. Other 'helpers' never seemed to be the perfect answer.

And so it was...that I bought my 'new friend'.
Only available in the U.S.A....the postal costs were 'evil'...and the customs duty I had to pay in Germany mildly easier. However...it is here with me...the CORAVIN.
This ingenious little device allows you to drink the wine without ever having to open the bottle. The Coravin drives a thin, hollow needle right through the cork in order to pump argon right into the wine (as opposed to oxygen). Argon is an inert gas, and won’t affect the taste of the wine one bit. It will, however, provide pressure for the wine to pour right through that hollow needle without ever allowing oxygen to come in contact with the spirit. When you’re done drinking, simply remove the needle, and the cork will expand to seal that hole you just created, leaving you free to place that bottle back in the cellar for as long as you’d like.

I started out with something simple...

Friday 25 October 2013
Gernot Heinrich Pannobile 2006
Burgenland, Austria

A Cuvee of Zweigelt und Blaufränkisch...gentle sweet cherry fruit...soft vanilla tones...cool...light-footed...trace of oak...juicy and quite fresh for it's age..The tannins are soft...half the bottle was drank...the rest in a few days...
Points 16.25

Next day...

Saturday 26 October 2013
Stodden Neuenahrer Sonnenberg
Spätburgunder 2004
Ahr, Germany

I have never, as yet, become a full-blooded lover of Stodden wines...mainly due to the fact that the younger vintages needed ages to develope. I've heard that they are now more approachable in their youth.
This is the old school style...and has the Stodden markings...earthy...dry tannins...tobacco...wild cherries...
Another half-bottle tasted...and will leave it for a year or two.
Points 16.5

Getting adventurous...I chose two Knipser wines...vintage 2007...and tried them over a couple of days.


Sunday 27 October 2013
Knipser Kirschgarten Spätburgunder 2007
Pfalz, Germany

Still plenty of oak on the nose...a BIG wine...tobaccos...spices...black pepper...red currants....medium thick fruit...warm explosion on the back palate...needs a year or two
Points 17.25...with potential

Monday 28 October 2013
Knipser Großkarlbacher Burgweg 2007
Pfalz, Germany

More open...like a fine Burgundy...very much the attractive sister at the moment.....fascinating aromas of black cherries and forest berries...tannins more integrated that the Kirschgarten....with a sweetish feel to them.
Points 17.5

How about a comparitive tasting of two 2010's?

Tuesday 29 October 2013
Martin Wassmer Castellberg
Pinot Noir 2010

Baden, Germany
Medium thick fruit...but full of elegance...as I know the wine already I gave it some time in the glass to compensate what airing it would have received had it be opened and decanted. Still needs time...and the slightly robust tannins still need taming...the finish is long.
Points 17.5...which is slightly less than when I had a full bottle...with more airing

Tuesday 29 October 2013
Seeger Oberklamm Spätburgunder 2010
Baden, Germany

As the wine poured into the glass...there was a distinct vanilla smell...and compared to the Wassmer...this is softer...cooler...red cherries and strawberry fruit...cinnamon...easy tannins...
Points 17.75


Wednesday 30 October 2013
Of the 6 bottles tested...the three most approachable were again 'dropped' into a glass.
Gernot Heinrich Pannobile 2006....opened 5 days ago
Knipser Großkarlbacher Burgweg 2007
...opened 2 days ago
Seeger Oberklamm Spätburgunder 2010...opened the day before

No deterioration...same notes. It works...
My wife will get used to me taking my glass into the cellar to get refills in the future!

Friday, October 25, 2013

18 Pointers


Good friend Volker and myself...out at a local eatery...a very good reason to pull 2 goodies from the cellar.
Good wines can be predictable...great wines also...but sometimes the surprise makes it great.


Leo Alzinger
Grüner Veltliner Reserve 2009

Wachau, Austria

With this quality you expect the pepper...and instant minerals.
Friend Volker was lost...it smelled exotic...and silky palate...until...after a few guesses...and the wine developed...he headed for the Wachau.
Nobody gets more minerality into his wines than Leo Alzinger. Super nose...pears...golden delicious apples...touch of Botrytis...14.5% A
lcohol which is swept under the carpet... it gives enormous pleasure. A crystallized diamond...slick elegant palate...perfect balance...and a large glass helped it even more. Great stuff
Points 18





The red...the last of six bottles...and the previous one had been corked.

Gantenbein Pinot Noir 2005
Fläsch, Switzerland

An Angus Rump Steak was on the Daily Menu...and I had asked the restaurant owner to give this a couple of hours airing...I mean the wine..not the meat!
The first whiff from the glass had Volker and myself grinning like Cheshire cats ( old saying...so I presume they grin)
Farmyard smell..really perfect now...so well balanced...soft prickly Pinot. I always said this is a food wine...
and I ain't wrong. It just fills the mouth with all that is good in my favourite grape.We both agreed
Points 18



Friday, October 18, 2013

Baden Wines

Time passes...and wines are drunk...notes are made...but just got to sit down and blog them.
Sparse maybe...but at least you get something.

Martin Wassmer Weiser Burgunder
Dottinger Castellberg 2010
Baden, Germany

Delicate flowery nose...perfumed...creamy palate...lively minerals...real nice package...decent oak...spicy...
I could get to like this WB
16.5...but with potential


Martin Wassmer Schlatter Spätburgunder 2009
Baden, Germany

Nose reminded me of rum...where the recent 2007 seemed raw in comparison...this shows rich silky fruit...typical 2009...the balance is perfect...and oak well integrated.
Points 17.25




Huber Spätburgunder Alte Reben 2008
Baden, Germany

Sweetish old vine nose...red fruits...strawberry and redcurrant...hint of marzipan...decent acidity...gained power overnight...all Huber wines are excellent...but the Alte Reben is probably the best value for money
Points 17.25


Seeger Blauer Spätburgunder S 2011
Baden, Germany

Situated in Leimen...Seeger is now a major force in Germany.

This was quite forward...delicate gentle briary tannins...smokey...elegant.
Points 17




Claus Schneider Weiler Schlipf
Spätburgunder CS
Baden, Germany

Notes of cherries...spices...earthy but evolving nicely and showing silky fruit...
fine grained tannins...tobacco...cool and attractively fresh...and a good 'overnighter'
Points 17.25