WTN: Christmann Riesling

2009 A. Christmann Ruppertsberger Linsenbusch Riesling Trocken Qualitätswein –Pfalz, Germany 12,5%

At first glance this bears a strong resemblance to a Rheingau wine (Hattenheimer maybe?) and makes a good overall case for Pfalz Riesling being included in the general grouping of ‘Rhein Wine’. It has a strong stonefruit peachiness about it, apricot, and is quite forceful. Then it starts to diverge as the wickedly exotic aromas surface: pineapple, sweat, marijuana, sage, -almost scheurebe-like in some respects. I am always amazed by how extroverted the dry Rieslings can be from the Pfalz –and it isn’t all merely inoculated-yeast hocus-pocus. They are every bit as aromatic as Mosel Riesling, if more spicy than floral. Every single time I drink a Christmann wine, I am impressed. My New Years Resolution will be to drink them more often.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

I actually find Pfalz wines to be more aromatically interesting than Mosel wines. I just prefer the overall balance of Mosel wines.

Good thing that there is plenty of both. Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz wines provide a greater spectrum of flavors, IMO, but there are times when only a Mosel will do (and sometimes I just plain HUNGER for Mosel wines!)

Cheers,
Bill

My preferences are for Mosel (including Saar and Ruwer wines) and Rheingau but I remember having a Pfalz wine from Maikammer that was amazing. Do any of you have recent experiences with Maikammer wines?

My preferences are for Mosel (including Saar and Ruwer wines) and Rheingau but I remember having a Pfalz wine from Maikammer that was amazing. Do any of you have recent experiences with Maikammer wines?

Hi Jane,

I live about 6 km from Maikammer and drink them semi-regularly. It's probably better known for red wines and Pinot varieties than Riesling. Do you know which vine it was?

Cheers,
Bill

Not off hand Bill but I might be able to look it up. I kept index cards on some of the wines I tasted while living in Germany and this was one of them.

Bill - Thanks for the note. I haven't been able to find anything from Christmann in my area yet, aside from a QbA at one retailer. They certainly are (and have been) on my list of Pfalz producers whose wines I am looking forward to trying eventually, along with Bergdolt, Siegrist, and Dr. Wehrheim.