Some of you may remember this icon riesling of the 70s (amongst other icon Leo Burings of the 70s). They were too undervalued, under-estimated and under-appreciated. We are only now coming to truly appreciate the beauty of the wines and the winemaking. Those were the days of bell-bottomed trousers and stelvin stoppers, and incredibly winemarketers did not feel compelled to place an explanatory back label on bottles (for the benefit of the consumer, you understand).
I have been, and am, fortunate enough to have a benevolent elderly uncle who had the foresight (or forgetfulness) to put aside a few cases of this wine, which he advises me he purchased around 1972.
It carries a comparatively light 10% alcohol effortlessly, and I have tried 3 different bottles over the last 18 months always with the same wonderful result.
The colour is bright yellow and, upon opening, the bottle emitted a slight hissing noise from the gas. Mirabile dictu, the bubbles were still extant however they dissipated after about 1 minute.
On the nose and palate the wine exhibited quite heavy characteristic kerosene features but it was not overpowering, and it is a feature which I quite enjoy in aged riesling. However, I must confess that it is far more palpable than in other aged riesling I have drunk. There wasn't much fruit to speak of, however I did detect some old apple. The wine was semi-sweet which dulled on the back palate. The finish was fairly short.
On the second day the bubbles were again present but only at the pouring of the wine. The sweetness was a little more pronounced but there was little acidity to speak of and the finish was again a little short. However the essence of kerosene was still present on the nose and palate.
On the third (and final) day the bubbles again appeared upon pouring but disappeared immediately after. There was no acidity to speak of but there was a little more sweetness.
This wine was holding its own and it appears to me it was not about to crumble any time soon. For what it is, and was, this is another credit to the old Leo Burings and a truly wonderful wine.
PJ.
Leo Buring Sparkling Rinegolde [circa 1972].
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Prester John
Thank you Murray. I suspected this might strike a chord with you as a lover of rieslings, especially the old Leo Burings.
It was indeed a screwcap. It was the third bottle from the left, in your picture above.
I don't wish to make you envious at all, but the label on my bottle was in almost proof condition (if I can use an old numismatists term).
Best,
PJ.
It was indeed a screwcap. It was the third bottle from the left, in your picture above.
I don't wish to make you envious at all, but the label on my bottle was in almost proof condition (if I can use an old numismatists term).
Best,
PJ.
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Guest
Rinegold
I very much doubt whether this wine would have contained any Riesling
grapes ( probably 80c - $1/bot. in '72). In its day it was a mass produced
sparkler (charmat production process) that competed with Orlando's Barossa Pearl and its up-market cousin Starwine at the top of the sales tree.
Most companies had a cheap charmat sparkler, produced from the cheapest grapes possible, and sealed not with Stelvin but a plastic stopper held in with a screw-cap.
Prices for Riesling grapes in 1972 were beginning to rise, soon to fetch
the unheard of price of $350/ton, and if your fruit was top quality, you
could be eligible for a $300/ton bonus - $650/ton - unbelievable!
(Petrol was approx 14 - 15c/litre)
grapes ( probably 80c - $1/bot. in '72). In its day it was a mass produced
sparkler (charmat production process) that competed with Orlando's Barossa Pearl and its up-market cousin Starwine at the top of the sales tree.
Most companies had a cheap charmat sparkler, produced from the cheapest grapes possible, and sealed not with Stelvin but a plastic stopper held in with a screw-cap.
Prices for Riesling grapes in 1972 were beginning to rise, soon to fetch
the unheard of price of $350/ton, and if your fruit was top quality, you
could be eligible for a $300/ton bonus - $650/ton - unbelievable!
(Petrol was approx 14 - 15c/litre)
