Just a few notes from the last 2-3 weeks, including some from wines that I tried at local tastings and events.
2008 Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese Herzlay
Not a producer that I was familiar with; apparently, this estate was born out of a division of Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben in 1967. “Herzlay” is a heart-shaped subsection of the Treppchen.
Anyway, this is medium-bodied, and nicely balanced with good underlying acidity, and a bit sweeter than many Spätlese from 2008. Shows notes of tropical fruits, pears, white flowers, and minerals, with a hint of poultry seasoning. Very good.
2007 Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg Abtswinder Altenberg Scheurebe Kabinett
A nicely balanced, off-dry Scheurebe, with moderate acidity, and grassy/citrusy/tropical fruit notes. At $14, this is another good value from this estate, one of the largest and oldest in Germany.
2004 Sybille Kuntz Riesling QbA Trocken Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Medium-bodied, mature, nutty, nicely balanced – a nice food wine. As usual, a success from Ms. Kuntz.
2003 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese
Nicely balanced and focused, and quite elegant, especially for a 2003. Shows good acidity throughout, and is only lightly sweet. Quite mineral, as expected for Halenberg, with tropical fruit, apple, and sage notes. Excellent.
2003 Grans-Fassian Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Auslese
Sweeter and a bit fatter than the Schönleber, but not a huge Auslese that borders on TBA territory; still, it shows good balance and acidity. Some light petrol on the nose, which tends toward minerals. Otherwise, this is a more fruit-forward wine, with more transparent minerality behind flavors of pears, apples, and tropical fruits. Very good+.
2003 Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Kabinett
Keller’s dry wines get most of the attention, but I find that their fruitier wines are also quite impressive. Nose of apples, with some light petrol, and a bit of funky earthiness. Medium-bodied, elegant, and almost dry, with just a bit of sweetness – there is no way that I would have guessed this was a 2003 if served blind. There is more spritziness than I would have expected at this stage, but the balance is great, and the aromatics are quite nice, so the extra CO2 doesn’t bother me at all. Shows apple, melon, and lime flavors, along with sharp, yet delicate, minerality, and hints of ginger and shortbread cookies. Very good/excellent.
2009 Sergio Mottura Orvieto
50% Procanico/25% Verdello/25% Grechetto. Medium-bodied, bone dry, and nicely balanced, with moderate acidity, and slightly leesy/mineral apricot and tropical fruit notes. Good.
2006 Martilde Oltrepò Pavese Bonarda Zaffo
Moderate weight/tannin; well balanced, nicely structured, with good underlying acidity. Somewhat floral, with notes of dark berries, plums, leather, and tar. Very good.
NV (2009) Frank Cornelissen Contadino 7 VdT
A blend of various local grapes – the pourer at the event said it was mostly Nerello Mascalese, with some Sangiovese, Alicante Bouschet, and Uva Francesa. On the other hand, I saw a note in Cellartracker saying that is was a blend of both several different red and white grapes, including Nerello Mascalese and Alicante Bouschet.
Very light in color. Light in weight, elegant, and nicely balanced, with floral, cranberry, cardamom, and baking spice notes. Really nice.