Wine on the Radio - July 15, 2003

German Riesling                          Recommendations

Patrick W. Fegan of Chicago Wine School gives some insights into German wines for summer.

" Germany is known for white wines and Rieslings are really tasty for summer menus.

Most of the Riesling is grown on the slopes overlooking the winding Rhein and Mosul Rivers .

Along the Rhein, the Rheingau region isn't very large but is big in Riesling as are the Mittel-Mosul and Saar regions.

The wines are green tinged yellow and they're off dry but balanced with tangy acidity.

Rieslings are often age worthy but can be drunk young

And wines from the Rhein areas are easy to spot - most are in the familiar tall brownish bottles on the shelf. While Mosuls tend be in green bottles.

If you like pork chops or smoked sausages then look for those tall bottles with the word Riesling on the label . . . Kabinetts are drier while Spätlese are a little sweeter."

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Some Riesling choices     All prices approximate

 

Trefethen 2001 Dry Riesling Estate $15
Napa Valley , California
Winemaker's Notes
Intriguing lemon zest and jasmine characterize this wines inviting aromas.

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2001 Riesling $10
Willamette Valley , Oregon
Winemaker's Notes
Explosively fruity, clean, crisp, semi-sweet and mouth watering. Oregon 's leading Riesling

Trimbach 2000 Riesling $18
Alsace , France
Winemaker's Notes
This wine is pale golden in color with a greenish tinge

J.J. Prum 2000 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese $30
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Winemaker's Notes
"Like the corresponding Kabinett, this shows considerable delicacy along with its pure, healthy ripeness, and the classic Sonnenuhr building blocks of apple and vanilla in spades"

Von Othegraven 2001 Maria Von O. Riesling $15
Mosul-Saar-Ruwer , Germany
Winemaker's Notes
This legendary 19th-C. estate, exclusively associated with its great holding in the Kanzemer Altenberg, began a rejuvenation process in 1995

Von Othegraven 2001 Kanzemer Altenberg Spatlese $50
Mosul-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Winemaker's Notes
While the Altenberg consistently gives the extract levels required for the production of superb dry wines, the sweeter styles here, as elsewhere in the Saar , are offset by vibrant ripe acidity and perform admirably with food

Beringer 2001 Johannisberg Riesling $10
California
Winemaker's Notes
In my mind, the key to Johannisberg Riesling is balance

Ch. Ste. Michelle 2002 Johannisberg Riesling $8
Columbia Valley , Washington
Winemaker's Notes
Intense honeysuckle, peach, ripe apricot and citrus blossom aromas

Hugel 2000 Riesling $20
Alsace , France
It has a full palate, quite dry, with considerable weight