WTN: Trimbach the sails

Being a mostly-red wine drinker, I’m only just now starting to “get” it about good Riesling

Trimbach 2000 Alsace Riesling, $12
This has a wonderful, effusive nose with flowers, some citrus, a touch of petrol, and minerals. On the palate, there is a mix of citrus and peach fruit with lots and lots of steely minerals. Complex, bright acidity, dry, medium-bodied, very enjoyable. No danger of going over the hill at this point. Excellent match with tofu in orange sauce. Importer: Diageo.

Trimbach 2002 Alsace Riesling, $16
Wow. This is all iron and granite with some citrus accents on both the nose and palate. There might be a touch of gasoline/kerosene on the nose but somehow it seems to fit in the iron/steel/granite spectrum. Bone dry, refreshing, outstanding. Excellent match with tofu in orange sauce. (This was consumed several months after the 2000; the former went so well with the dish, I decided to make it again to go with the 2002.) Two days later, it’s similar, maybe a little fruitier, richer and bigger-bodied but still very balanced and very much in keeping with the minerally style the wine had upon opening.

Wit!

[David M. Bueker]

Just stay very far away from the 2003. It's nasty stuff.

Just stay very far away from the 2003. It's nasty stuff.

That's pretty much been my philosophy about almost every wine from anywhere in Europe and somehow, I think I may have avoided seeing the 2003 Trimbach on the shelves at all. I've most recently purchased the 2004 and plan on aging it awhile. I really enjoyed these wines at seven and five years of age, respectively; do you have a sense about what the optimal aging window is for this basic bottling?

Thank you, Joe. That's nicer than hearing a groan, which would have been equally deserved.

[David M. Bueker]

I've had the 2004 once & liked it. As for aging, I have heard from a former WLDG stalwart that the wine can reward several years of patience. I'm not sure how many though.

Thanks. Now that you mention it, I believe that former WLDG stalwart's notes on Trimbach are what caused me to give it a try. I'm glad I did.