1997 C. H. Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese
Community Tasting Note
wineberg wrote:
flawed
Friday, May 10, 2013 - Bottle 3 of 6 from Full Pull. Bad bottle. The cork on this was soaked through with a nice ring of mold around the top where the cork met the bottle. Looked like there was some growth throughout the cork.
Somewhat drinkable, but everything I remember from the last bottle is totally muted...I'd call this one a dead bottle.
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Comment posted by Champagneinhand:
5/10/2013 3:31:00 PM - Berg, make sure you get credit from Paul on this, as several of us were concerned about depressed corks and Paul said he would stand behind these bottles like all his wines. The mold was most likely botrytis, which is the noble rot that gives the grapes the reduction and makes this an auslese wine. I have had several auslese and higher wines with a touch of this mold on the top of the cork. If it has gone down through the cork, well that's nasty.
Comment posted by wineberg:
5/11/2013 6:40:00 AM - Thanks for the info CiH. Didn't think about the fact it was probably the botrytis.
We actually ended up drinking most of it anyway :) It wasn't corked; it was just...flat, I guess is my best descriptor.
Comment posted by Champagneinhand:
5/11/2013 10:27:00 AM - Botrytis can be a beast in the vines if it comes to early and its very resistant to many fungicides. Usually they stop using sulphur long before the start of harvest, and while some Potassium metabisulfate (wine Sulfur) is used in bottling, the stuff is quite resistant to this as well. Most riesling maker's don't want to use potassium sorbate which kills everything, as it can alter the wine a touch, but somewhat expected especially since many riesling leak a bit. Usually the better ones have the sugar dry and seal like a scab, but sometimes that botrytis finds a way into the cork. I haven't seen it down very far, but haven't had many old sweet wines other than Berres. I have a '96 BA, which I'll keep away from the Wegeler, Zillken and Berres as they some botrytis under the capsule.