WTN: Dinner

with spiced cashews
2005 Huet Vouvray Pétillant Brut
Ok, this needs age. But I couldn’t resist. And I was rewarded with mouthfuls of glistening diamond-like Chenin shards. Really. And I loved it. Plus it went well with the nuts.

with maitake, yellow squash, basil and tomato sauce pizza
2008 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Faß 6 ‘Senior’
2008 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Faß 12 Unterstenbersch
The Senior had actually been opened the night before when it was more sour and lean (if plenty zesty and lively on the palate). But on this second night it was much broader and smokier. Not quite as precise as the Unterstenbersch but still plenty of glistening mineral focus and plenty of pleasure.
The Unterstenbersch was rich powerful yet racy and lean, and admittedly without the benefit of 24 hours of air for a direct comparison. It tilted towards the sour side, which some may like more than others, but both wines were great accompaniments with the pizza.
These were my first Lauer bottles and I must say I didn't love either wine although I was expecting/hoping to have a stronger reaction. Especially given my love of the Saar. But perhaps 08 is entering a closed period?

with fluke with roasted tomatoes and kalamata olives, spinach, spiced couscous
2007 Edmunds St. John That Old Black Magic
Rich warm and easy to drink. Might have been a bit overpowering for the fish texture-wise, but the olives helped bring everything together. And it was great for sipping after the meal with all of its friendly generous nature wrapping around our palates and brains. Something to drink now while you wait for the other bottlings to age!

[David M. Bueker]

2007 Edmunds St. John That Old Black Magic
Rich warm and easy to drink. Might have been a bit overpowering for the fish texture-wise, but the olives helped bring everything together. And it was great for sipping after the meal with all of its friendly generous nature wrapping around our palates and brains. Something to drink now while you wait for the other bottlings to age!

But I bet it will age really well.

2007 Edmunds St. John That Old Black Magic
Rich warm and easy to drink. Might have been a bit overpowering for the fish texture-wise, but the olives helped bring everything together. And it was great for sipping after the meal with all of its friendly generous nature wrapping around our palates and brains. Something to drink now while you wait for the other bottlings to age!

But I bet it will age really well.

Indeed. And therein lies the rub!

I'm with you on the Lauer wines - the wines were good, but don't have much charm or anything that makes them particularly 'fun' or enjoyable. (Perhaps the Diel of the Saar.) Though I was quite impressed by the Lauer "Kern" when I had it at Crush some time ago.

Old Black Magic is a wonderful wine, and the only thing preventing its aging is the fact that it's so drinkable and fun right now.

I'm with you on the Lauer wines - the wines were good, but don't have much charm or anything that makes them particularly 'fun' or enjoyable. (Perhaps the Diel of the Saar.) Though I was quite impressed by the Lauer "Kern" when I had it at Crush some time ago..

Yes, I keep hearing about the Kern. Will keep trying because I do love the Saar, but am in no hurry at the moment. Such is my picky purchasing habit.

thanks for note, didn't realize 05 Huet Petillant was out, I must try!

thanks for note, didn't realize 05 Huet Petillant was out, I must try!

I saw it on the Chambers website and then in the store a bunch of bottles were laying at the bottom of the sparkling wine shelf but (perhaps coincidentally) nothing was being displayed at the top for customers to easily find it. Of course I knew what I was there to buy and I guess it will sell out anyway.

Yes, I keep hearing about the Kern. Will keep trying because I do love the Saar, but am in no hurry at the moment. Such is my picky purchasing habit.

Have you tried any of Van Volxem's Saar wines? Slightly different from the normal sweeter wines, but I've generally found them very good.

Yes, I keep hearing about the Kern. Will keep trying because I do love the Saar, but am in no hurry at the moment. Such is my picky purchasing habit.

Have you tried any of Van Volxem's Saar wines? Slightly different from the normal sweeter wines, but I've generally found them very good.

Yes, I've had a few over the years and I think I prefer the general style of these Lauer wines. From what I remember, Van Volxem seems to push for more ripeness (and even some of the dried botrytis?), which gives a flavor profile that is not my favorite. But, that could just be because I'm thinking of 06 and 07. But I agree, all of these wines are good and we're lucky to be able to choose our favorites.

I would not be surprised to see massive ripeness and sometimes dry botrytis in the 06s, but that's something I found in a lot of the dry wines that year - even Donnhoff's Hermannshohle and Wittmann's Aulerde GGs showed some pineapple/tropical fruited characteristics.

Some of Van Volxem's wines are fairly ripe - particularly from the Goldberg site, which I understand is his warmest and usually shows the richest fruit, but I thought his collection in '08 was fantastic for the most part with less ripeness/power than in previous years and more acid and finesse. The wines weren't overly ripe (the Saar Alte Reben is a stunning wine at $25ish, and I loved the Goldberg and Gottesfuss at the higher end), didn't have any signs of botrytis at all and showed fantastic precision and balance. Will have to open one of them for you in fall some time (assuming I don't drink through all my 08 purchases by then).