WTN: Pfalz, Beaujolais, Macon,and Austria

With the Zuni (Judy Rodgers) chicken, the 2004 Schloss Gobelsburg "Gobelsburger" Zweigelt. Light and bright, strawberry and raspberry fruit, some light tannins. Not much on the finish, but it's a fairly inexpensive bottling, so fills its niche. B

Betsy made a flank steak with a mustardy marinade, sweet potatoes, and a broccoli/pea dish Tuesday. Wine was a 2005 Jadot Beaujolais-Villages (375). I'm not usually a big fan of negociant Beaujolais, but the ripeness of the vintage seems to have done well for Jadot. Pretty red berry fruit , surprising tannins. Quite enjoyable. B/B+

After dinner Tues, after dinner Wed (I ate at a meeting with no wine), and after dinner Thursday, the 2004 Kurt Darting Ungsteiner Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese (Pfalz). Lime and a hint of white flowers, a bit too sweet and ponderous for me. I really liked Darting as a QPR producer in 2001, but subsequent vintages have proven too heavy/fat for me. Did Darting change or did I? I think I'm just not a Pfalz guy (though I'll never turn down an older Muller-Catoir!). B-

Thursday she made a pasta with tomato sauce with tarragon and a lobster tail, with a separate course of kale over garlic rubbed toast with cheese. Wine was the 2004 Domaine de Vercheres Macon-Villages. Granny smith fruit and an edge of chalk, flavor profile is appealing but a bit dilute and short. A little more there there, please. B-

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

[David M. Bueker]

Dale,

I don't think you changed, but Darting has always been a producer I looked to for their dessert style wines. Those are great values. I find many of their Rieslings at the spatlese level to be too heavy as well. The kabinetts are more my speed, but let's face it, German kabinett is such a Mosel thing...

Thanks David. I have one bottle of the '01 Nonn. Durk. Auslese Rieslaner - any ideas re when to open? Is Rieslaner earlier maturing than Riesling?

[David M. Bueker]

That Rieslaner may be the best wine they have ever made. I had a bottle of it last September & thought it had lots of time left, but it was fabulous then.