2008 Weingut Schäfer Mußbacher Kurfürst Riesling Brut Sekt b.A. -Pfalz, Germany 12,5%
I'd have liked to give a more detailed note on this, but there wasn't much time as the bottle drained quickly during dinner prep. Granny-apple and bosc-pear with subdued floral aromas, just pure, uncomplicated pommace fruit, a creamy mousse, and spritely attack. Delicious and a miracle with the cured speck tidbits that I was dicing for tarte flambée.
2009 Müller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Grauburgunder Spätlese Trocken -Pfalz, Germany 13,5%
It is probably not surprising that there is a strong Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder) tradition in the Pfalz, it being a northerly continuation of Alsace. The wines tend not to run as rich, but because there still isn't all that much Chardonnay here, Grauburgunder often assumes the role that Chard would otherwise occupy. Sometimes that means playing with new oak. It is the case here, a stylistic departure for lovers of M-C such as myself, but not an unpleasant one (though I encounter whites with obvious new-wood so rarely in Germany that it does seem foreign and exotic and it blew me away at the start.) A sweet apple and grapeiness, banana, dates, pecan, brioche and vanilla with a creamy finish. I may buy another bottle or two to forget about for a while.
Cheers,
Bill