Can we send you three bottles of Riesling? Uh, YOU BET! Three samples of the Best White Wine on Earth arrived for my consideration and, specifically, for a twitter tasting known as #winechat that takes place every Thursday from 6-7pm PST.
The three contenders?
- Kamptal, Austria: Brandl Riesling 2011
- Alsace, France: Paul Blanck & Fils Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg 2010
- Rheingau, Germany: Schloss Schönborn Riesling Kabinett Erbacher Macrobrunn 2011
What did I have to say about the three of them? To the Twitters!
My favorite of the night was the Brandl:
This Riesling is irresistible. @austrianwineusa #winechat pic.twitter.com/PZZiM2VZv5
— Jameson Fink (@jamesonfink) August 21, 2014
Tasting note? OK:
Fiery01Red @AustrianwineUSA Dry, delicious, a little lime-y. Pert and perky. #winechat
— Jameson Fink (@jamesonfink) August 21, 2014
The German Riesling?
I #approve this message. RT @megmaker: I endorse sweet riesling. #winechat
— Jameson Fink (@jamesonfink) August 21, 2014
Note that the Schloss Schönborn is low in alcohol and has some zip to it. Perfect brunch/late morning wine. Or after mowing the lawn on a hot day. Or in lieu of lawn-mowing.
What about the entry from Alsace?
Blanck is really good but you don’t know you’re going to get that sweetness until you open it. #winechat
— Jameson Fink (@jamesonfink) August 21, 2014
I continue to be stymied by Alsatian Rieslings (and the region’s whites in general) for this reason. This is a much richer version of Riesling; serious stuff you could put in the cellar.
Want more of The Riesling Story? Check out my interview with author Stuart Pigott on Grape Collective.
A note on glassware: I was sent two wine glasses (the “StandArt” and “Gold Edition”) by Gabriel-Glas, which I first took for a spin during this tasting. Usually I’m a jelly-jar type of wine drinkin’ guy, but was impressed with the modern shape of Gabriel-Glas’ well-designed bowl. The mouth-blown Gold Edition is astonishingly light. Like featherweight; I couldn’t stop holding it and waving it about. (Sans wine for safety, naturally.) The StandArt is machine-molded and heavier, but no heavyweight. Both are intended to be a universal glass (as in, you don’t need another); the StandArt goes for $29, the Gold Edition for $55. I’m really enjoying drinking out of both of them on a regular basis. Have a look:
Find out what Ben Carter thought about these Rieslings (and the Thirty Years’ War) on Benito’s Wine Reviews.
Jelly jar–not the greatest idea for catching good wine nose.