So last night David was eating with us, Betsy decided to do a couple of recipes from a book of Asian wraps he had given her for a present. She made a gado-gado wrap (fill your lettuce leaf with sprouts, beans, fried tofu, carrots, etc and top with a peanut-coconut sauce), and stirfried chicken and leeks in a hoisin based sauce. I thought off-dry Riesling, and went to the basement. Where I spied a 2003 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spätlese (Nahe) that had been on "to drink" rack forever. Why did I buy this- I'm in general no fan of 2003, which is why it has sat on rack so long. Oh, well, might as get this over with.
Actually quite the nice surprise. How did they get such zippy acidity in 2003? Maybe acidification, but if so I wish more had done so. Sweet pear fruit with a little tangerine, but with a streak of green apple tartness down the middle. Good finish, a little flowers and flint. Not one I'd go searching for, but better than most 2003 Rieslings in the $15 range (based on my very limited sampling). Very food friendly, bridged the various elements of this meal well. B/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.
