WTNs: Baden Spätburgunder, Pfalz Lemberger

2008 Fritz Waßmer Spätburgunder trocken QbA -Baden, Germany 13%

Bright strawberry and cherry fruit up front, a little liquorice, hazelnut, and smoke. Very tasty. I'm been a big fan of the few bottles that I've tasted from Waßmer. It's clearly a producer that I need to explore further. And they make Syrah and Viognier!

2005 Karl Dennhardt Mussbacher Bischofsweg Lemberger trocken QbA -Pfalz, Germany 13,0%

So impressed was I by the Frühburgunder last week that I decided to try the Lemberger (a grape which I love.) This is nothing short of a perfect example of a solid, everyday drinker with a few years bottle age that tastes wonderful. Straightforward fruit of bing cherry and cranberry, anise and savory cinnamon almost brings to mind Tuscan Sangiovese, though this is softer in acidity. Showing delicious evolution for its relatively short life-span.

Cheers,
Bill

2005 Karl Dennhardt Mussbacher Bischofsweg Lemberger trocken QbA -Pfalz, Germany 13,0%....Showing delicious evolution for its relatively short life-span.

I was wondering about this. I recently did a tasting of 8 Lembergers and was wondering how well they age. One we tasted was a 2003 and it was very nice. http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34657&p=292331

[David M. Bueker]

Bill,

What do these wines go for in Germany? I enjoy German red wines, but most of what comes to the USA is either total plonk or prohibitively expensive. Just looking for calibration.

2005 Karl Dennhardt Mussbacher Bischofsweg Lemberger trocken QbA -Pfalz, Germany 13,0%....Showing delicious evolution for its relatively short life-span.

I was wondering about this. I recently did a tasting of 8 Lembergers and was wondering how well they age. One we tasted was a 2003 and it was very nice. http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34657&p=292331

Hi Howie,
I tasted a modest 1999 Lemberger from Höpler last year (I don't know if I posted a note on it. I can't find it if I did) that I bought out of a closeout bin and it was still going. The fruit had gone a little 'brick and loam' (in an appealing way), but the tobacco and white pepper were intact. It was fine if not great.

I tasted this wine last april, which I would assume will have no problem going the distance, though how it will all end is a mystery to me:
http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=31898&p=270069&hilit=Prieler+Blaufr%C3%A4nkisch#p270032

Cheers,
Bill

Bill,

What do these wines go for in Germany? I enjoy German red wines, but most of what comes to the USA is either total plonk or prohibitively expensive. Just looking for calibration.

David, you're going to hate me! The Lemberger was 5€, the Spätburgunder probably 9 or 10. Maybe the day will come when some importer, somewhere finally decides to take a serious look at the reds of Germany. My guess is that there just aren't enough consumers in-the-know to make it financially viable. Hopefully that will one day change.

Cheers,
Bill