WSET Level 3, Session 4: White Wines of Germany, Alsace, Austria, and the Tokaj region of Hungary

Online
Tasted Monday, January 25, 2021 by penguinoid with 68 views

Introduction

We've now switched to online tastings for the next few sessions. The wines were re-bottled under inert gas into small blue bottles, and then vacuum-packed to preserve freshness.

This first online session looked at the white wines of Alsace, Austria, Germany, and Tokaji.

Flight 1 - Grüner Veltliner from Austria (1 Note)

The first wine we tasted was a Grüner from Austria, that exhibited the typical white pepper character.

  • 2019 Loimer Grüner Veltliner Lois

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

    Appearance: clear medium lemon
    Nose: stone fruit: necatrine, apricot. Lemon peel, grapefruit. Blackcurrant leaf? White pepper. Wet stone. Biscuity, bread dough. Clean, medium(+) intensity, youthful.
    Palate: stone fruit: unripe nectarine. Grapefruit, lemon, lemon peel. White pepper. Wet stone. Biscuity. Dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12,5%), medium(-) bodied, medium flavour intensity, primary flavours, medium(-) finish.
    Assessment of quality: good
    Level of readiness for drinking: drink now, not suitable for further ageing.

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Flight 2 - Riesling from Alsace and Germany (3 Notes)

Three rieslings. The Hugel Riesling was a little simple, unfortunately, but very well made. The two German rieslings showed more complexity.

  • 2016 Hugel Riesling Estate

    France, Alsace

    Appearance: clear medium lemon
    Nose: lemon, necatrine, apricot, grapefruit. Elderflower? Clean, medium(+) intensity, youthful.
    Palate: lemon, lemon rind, lime cordial. Elderflower? Simple. Dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12%), medium(-) bodied, secondary flavours, medium flavour intensity, primary, medium(-) finish.
    Assessment of quality: Acceptable.
    Level of readiness for drinking: drink now, not suitable for further ageing.

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  • 2017 Gunderloch Niersteiner Pettenthal Riesling Großes Gewächs

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Appearance: clear medium lemon
    Nose: peach, nectarine. Pear. Lemon, grapefruit. Flint. Kerosene. Wax? Elderflower, blossoms. Wet stones. Clean, medium intensity, developing
    Palate: lemon, lemon peel. Peach, nectarine. Blossom, elderflower. Wet stone. Flint? Kerosene? Dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12,5%), medium(+) bodied, pronounced intensity, tertiary flavours, medium(+) finish.
    Assessment of quality: very good
    Level of readiness for drinking: Drink now, but suitable for further ageing.

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  • 2019 Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Appearance: pale clear lemon-green
    Nose: lemon peel. Peach, apricot. Lemon drops. Honeysuckle. Tinned lychee. Clean, medium intensity, youthful.
    Palate: lemon peel. Peach, apricot, lemon drops. Honeysuckle, tinned lychee. Off-dry, high acidity, low alcohol (10,5%), medium bodied, medium(+) flavour intensity, primary, youthful, medium finish.
    Assessment of quality: very good
    Level of readiness for drinking: drink now, suitable for ageing or further ageing

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Flight 3 - Tokaji (1 Note)

A luscious desert wine from Tokaji perfectly exemplified the region.

  • 2000 Chateau Imperial Tokaj Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos

    Hungary, Tokaji

    Appearance: deep amber, clear
    Nose: honey, toffee, apple. Dried apricot. Orange. Butterscotch. Macadamia. Smoke. Dried muscatel/raisins. Dried apples. Clean, medium(+) intensity, developed.
    Palate: Honey, toffee, apple. Dried apricot. Orange. Butterscotch. Macadamia. Smoke. Dried raisins. Ginger, fig. Lemon, lemon peel. Luscious, high acidity, medium alcohol (11,5%), full bodied, pronounced flavour intensity, tertiary, long finish.
    Assessment of quality: outstanding
    Level of readiness for drinking: can drink now, suitable for further ageing.

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Closing

These are all regions that I'm not as familiar with, so this was a particularly interesting tasting for me. The stand-out wines for me were the 2017 Gunderloch Pettenthal Riesling Große-Gewächse and the 2000 Chateau Imperial Tokaji 5 Puttonyos, both of which showed complexity, balance, length, and intensity.

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