Coravin fun - German Riesling tasting...then drinking!
E & M's in the rocks, Sydney
Tasted October 30, 2016 by chatters with 237 views
Introduction
Went to E&Ms with a few bottles of German Riesling that I wanted an excuse to try (mostly Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle from various vintages and classifications). We Coravined them all (except those under screwcap) then had lunch and drank some of the bottles. The rest I left behind to make up for my previous plunderings of their cellar.
Flight 1 - Bracket 1 - GG's (2 notes)
The 2007 was superb from Coravin…Pity it proved to be corked with more air exposure…bah
White
2011 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs
Germany, Nahe
From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of mineral; wet stone, apple, sweet spice and slight peach. With time in the glass it' gets quite floral and a slight lychee note joins. It's more green on apple on the palate with sharp acidity and spicy notes on the finish (which is quite long). it's fairly linear, nice and fresh.
White
2007 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs
Germany, Nahe
"From Coravin. I pick up the tiniest whiff of cork taint here which seems to blow off then also honey, cream, honeysuckle, apple and very slight lychee. In the mouth it is green appley and honeyed flavours but bone dry, superb balance, exceedingly long and exceedingly nice.
We opened this bottle to have with supper and, over time, the cork taint became more discernible. FLAW"
Flight 2 - Bracket 2 - Spatlese (3 notes)
A very pleasant bracket. The 2007 gaining that herbaceous note was a little problematic but all of these were nice.
White - Off-dry
2006 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese
Germany, Nahe
From Coravin. Initial medium minus intensity with aromas of glue, apples and cream, muted and confected with touches of pineapple and honey and, with time, a slight kerosene hint. Beautiful balance of acidity and sweetness with muted fruit and gentle spice, it gains breadth and a little mid palate burr with time. very nice.
Flight 3 - Bracket 3 - Auslese (1 note)
just the one half bottle here, more's the pity
White - Off-dry
2010 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Ruppertsberger Riesling Auslese
Germany, Pfalz
From Coravin. Hmm, a bit forward for me on the first pouring, slightly metallic with sweet spice, a kind of tokay style oxidative note underpinned by some green grapinesss. Upon agitation touches of apricot and lemon zest. Quite sharp acidity on the palate that is initially a little too much for the residual sugar. Flavours of apricot and honey on second sip come to the fore backed by cream and muted nutmeg underpinned by ripe lemon. Slowly but surely this wine blossoms on the nose and palate, gaining in weight and purity. Not profound but still very good.
Flight 4 - Bracket 4 - with lunch (2 notes)
Blue Swimmer crab salad then pipis with pasta…yum. As well as the below we opened the 2007 GG (which grew progressively worse over the evening from a corked perspective) and the 2009 Spatlese.
White
2012 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Medium minus aromas of apple and struck match…in the mouth this is quite spritzy with green apple notes and slightly off dry residual sugar. Far more subtle than the Donnhoff's for sure and, for me, needs a bucket more time. Should have probably started with this...
White
2012 Wittmann Riesling Trocken
Germany, Rheinhessen
medium minus intensity aromas of kerosene, mud and earth and wet stone…as well as some peachy fruit peeking through. In the palate it's more sulphurous. With time the sulphur begins to dissipate but this needs a couple more years in bottle I think.
Closing
After this lot it was time to see in a comfy chair, put on the box and fall asleep…Perfect, only I don't live at E&M's so I had to get up, get to the station and get on a train home without nodding off and waking up at the end of the line…Still, a great opportunity to have a lovely time with wonderful friends trying some superb wines. Can't get better than that.
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