Gernan wine with Robert Bowditch

It is always interesting to me when I taste the same grape from a region or country and have such different experiences. In this case Riesling from Germany. It is hard to break the stereotype of all riesling being sweet but that is one that can be changed. By nature of the beast there is good fruit and sugar in the grapes but depending on what the producer does it can be used to their advantage.





Pfeffingen Pfeffo 2006 Riesling Kabinet Pfalz One of the important wine regions of Germany Pfalz is more often overshadowed by the big brother Mosel. This is a medium dry which kabinet is the least of the sugar levels of German law. You get the granny smith apple and a little cotton candy on the nose and palate. Pfeffo was the first Roman who planted grapes in Germany. Romans were planting grapes for hundreds of years. Riesling was first documentedd in the 1100 A.D.



Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Estate Riesling Kabinet Rheinhessen.2005 A big mineral nose with almost 11% alcohol, very high for german wines. A little honeydew mixed with the mineral on the finish.



Dr F Weins Prum 2006 Estate Riesling 06 was a hot year and Riesling got uber ripe. This wine showed a lot of petrol and viscosity. Definte sweet aromas and a strong finish.

Schafer Frolich 2006 Estate Kabinet Nahe Another lesser known but very good region is the Nahe. This wine to me was all petrol and very very dry. I wonder if when this one ages whether the petrol will take over??

Rudi Wiest Selections Rhein River 2006 Juicy sweet but not over the top so. a little granny smith tartness at the end.

Gunderloch Diva Riesling Spatlese Rheinhessen 2005 Pretty light yellow, round rich and ripe was how it was described to me. No high in alcohol for the Diva in all of us??

Monchof Estate Mosel Slate Spatlese Mosel 2006 A wine that could have been Beerenauslese because of the ripeness. lots going on in the glass...unctious to the core The slate is reflected in the minerality of the wine.


Schloss Lieser 2004 Niederberg Helden Auslese in a 375 bottle..Petrol going to peach. but not cloyingly sweet.. I was hunkering for some foie gras or blue cheese.....yumm Unfortunately they sold out, if you belong to the river club downtown you want to get this.