The Auswine Forum

Another great evening.

Shannon (RedVelvet) is very passionate about his German Rieslings, and it was his turn to host the monthly Grapemates get together. Once again we found ourselves at the Peter Bourne Tasting Rooms. Shannon had managed to source a good range of aged riesling from his sources overseas and armed with his tasting guide/notes and a small talk before each flight explaining the flight we moved through the various flights. He is a wealth of knowledge on the region and the why's and how's of German wine in general.

Food was great as always, ranging from a great selection of cheeses and pates, to smoked salmon, pork and apple bites, weisswurst and other sausages and mustard, Salads, Veal Geschnetzelte, creme brulee, cakes (Bee Sting, Mandarin sponge)

We then finished the night off with some 21YO Glenlivet Archive, Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix, Laphroaig 10YO Cask Strength singles malts as we wound the night down.

On the whole the wines were all showing quite well, with a few corked/muted examples but none were overly so that they still couldn't be appreciated. There was a diverse range from those with high levels of acidity, others with a voluptuous mouth feel, the longer you swirled in your mouth the more it opened up, then there were others with just a really good balance of fruit and acidity. Some were showing really well taking into consideration they were over 47 years old. I also enjoyed the trockens before the Auslese filghts as it really refreshed my palate and gave it a nice 'relaxed' feeling before starting on the sweeter wines. The QbA at the end was a great way to finish off.


Aperitif
1981 Schales, Dalsheimer Burg Rodenstein, Sparkling Riesling, Rheinhessen
1990 Schales, Dalsheimer Burg Rodenstein, Sparkling Riesling, Rheinhessen

Flight 1
1973 Schloss Johannisberger (Furst von Metternich) Riesling Rotlack, Kabinett
1978 Schloss Vollrads, Riesling, Kabinett
1990 Staatweinguter, Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck, Riesling, Kabinett
WOTF
1990 Staatweinguter, Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck, Riesling, Kabinett


Flight 2
1979 Schonborn, Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg, Riesling, Spatlese, Rheingau
1967 Dr Bassermann-Jordan, Durkheimer Speilberg, Riesling, Spatlese, Pfalz
1964 Friedrich Kirch & Son, Brauneberger Juffer, Riesling, Spatlese, MSR
WOTF
1979 Schonborn, Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg, Riesling, Spatlese, Rheingau


Flight 3
1976 Langwerth von Simmen, Hochheimer Reichesthal, Riesling, Spatlese
1976 Staatsweinguter, Rauenthaler Gehrn, Riesling, Spatlese
1976 Langwerth von Simmern, Eltviller Sonnenberg, Riesling, Spatlese
WOTF
1976 Staatsweinguter, Rauenthaler Gehrn, Riesling, Spatlese

Flight 4
1990 Staatweinguter, Rauenthaler Baiken, Riesling, Spatlese
1990 Lengwerth von Simmern, Rauenthaler Baiken, Riesling, Spatlese
1976 Lengwerth von Simmern, Rauenthaler Baiken, Riesling, Spatlese
WOTF
1976 Lengwerth von Simmern, Rauenthaler Baiken, Riesling, Spatlese

Flight 5
1983 Schales, Dalsheimer Steig, Riesling, Spatlese trocken
1983 Schales, Dalsheimer Burgel, Riesling, Spatlese halbtrocken
1985 Schales, Dalheimer Steig, Riesling, Spatlese trocken
WOTF
1983 Schales, Dalsheimer Burgel, Riesling, Spatlese halbtrocken


Flight 6
1976 Weingut Martin Klein, Johannnisberger Erntebringer, Riesling, Auslese
1975 Domherrenhof, Oestricher Lenchen, Riesling, Auslese
1976 Domherrenhof, Mittelheimer Edelmann, Riesling, Auslese
WOTF
1976 Domherrenhof, Mittelheimer Edelmann, Riesling, Auslese


Flight 7
1964 Weingut K Bender, Geisenheimer Mauerchen, Riesling, Auslese
1989 Schales, Riesling, Auslese trocken, Rheinhessen
2003 Schales, Riesling Auslese, Rheinhessen
WOTF
2003 Schales, Riesling Auslese, Rheinhessen


Flight 8
1975 Schales, Dalsheimer Steig, Riesling, Beerenauslese QbA


WOTN
1975 Schales, Dalsheimer Steig, Riesling, Beerenauslese QbA

Awesome night, a stunning lineup of wines and as usual food coming out of our ears - huge thanks to Redvelvet's amazing work sourcing all of these amazing wines! Pity about DHL's stuffup with the Beerenausleses.... hope they arrive in one piece! Nevertheless the final BA was stunning.

Dave missed a flight of the Rauenthaler Baiken, which should be flight 4 (there is a photo of them above).

Cheers
Andrew

Fixed.

Indeed an amazing night. Thanks to Shannon for organising such a great and illustrious lineup!

There were so many different opinions on some of the wines too, which really helped my appreciation for different flavours and palate / balance preferences. I was certainly drawn most towards the wines offering the best combination of aged characters, fruit weight and a clean acid spine to balance any sweetness.

My major highlights were...

1976 Staatsweinguter, Rauenthaler Gehrn, Riesling, Spatlese - This to me was WOTN equal to the BA - the complete aged riesling package, just wonderful balance.

1990 Lengwerth von Simmern, Rauenthaler Baiken, Riesling, Spatlese - I found the 1976 of this too one dimensional with intense dried thyme nose and palate (others didn't agree - 76 was WOF) - The 90 for me was more complete.

1976 Domherrenhof, Mittelheimer Edelmann, Riesling, Auslese - Lovely long length with sweet caramel notes. Less acid but I didn't mind this time!

1989 Schales, Riesling, Auslese trocken, Rheinhessen - I think I was almost alone in enjoying this, but my enjoyment was mainly for the potential I felt it still had, with just bits of that potential starting to poke through. The 03 was the fruity crowd pleaser though. (What's with the 03 change of bottle I wonder??)

1975 Schales, Dalsheimer Steig, Beerenauslese QbA - Just stunning wine, so clean and fresh for its' 36 years. Silky caramel and mocha sweetness...mmmmm..... more please.

Cheers everyone, and danke schon Shannon!
Tim

What a fabulous tasting. The picture of the bottles alone brings tears to my eyes. I just don't see these bottles in the shops at home anymore. Maybe it has something to do with prices and fashion.

Cheers..................Mahmoud.

Great photos Dave and looks like it was a great night..

I picked up a 2007 Schloss Vollrads, Riesling, Kabinett the other night for $34.
Dunno if i got a good deal or not, but reading above gives me some hope i can get some years on it. (Though i am going to try it young as i can get more).

Very sorry I missed this tasting. Looked amazing and great photos as always, Dave.