WTN: Beurer Junges Schwaben

Weingut Beurer 2014 Baden-Württemberg Riesling, 1er Lage, "Junges Schwaben."

I find it very hard to describe this wine. Austerely dry, slightly savory, lemon and lime pith, lively and complex and long, but I also don't get it, and I am beginning to think I don't get trocken German Riesling in general. I want to say that the wine is concentrated so far toward the back of the palate (I mean that metaphorically but also, a little bit, about where it feels like it's located in the mouth) that it tastes like it's receding, even though it's flavorful; and I also want to say that it doesn't have enough weight to bear all of its intensity. Does this make any sense, or should I just give up and stick to non-trocken Germans? It's not like I haven't enjoyed dry Alsatian and Austrian Rieslings...

Did you enjoy the wine?

That is the most important thing!

As far as 'understanding' German trocken, Beurer's wines (and to some extent Baden in general) are not necessarily typical of the broader country. I conceptualize Beurer's wines as a German riesling version of Muscadet, which dovetails with your description of being more intense than weighty.

If you want weightier wines, look to the Rheinhessen, plenty of big names there (Keller, Wittmann).

Right now my own preferences for German trocken riesling reach their apex with Rebholz, which is a restrained style in a warm region (Pfalz), so more weight than MSR but more finesse than Rheinhessen. But there are a lot of regions and a lot of producer styles, so of course it takes a while to 'get'!

No, I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. I recognized its merits, but I was distracted with every sip by the idea that I should be liking it more than I was.

But, as I'm sure you understand, being able to enjoy something often (not always) depends for us pointy-headed perfesser types on being able to conceptualize it, and your "German Riesling version of Muscadet" helps in that respect...

Always more to learn.

But, as I'm sure you understand, being able to enjoy something often (not always) depends for us pointy-headed perfesser types on being able to conceptualize it..

Indeed!

And the intriguing/frustrating thing with wine is that it takes so much time and experience to be able to place wines in context.

At least it's fun along the way!