Interesting German Wines

Interesting Wines

**Ratings**
0 - Yuck; Positively Feral. Served at bordellos. 1 - Industrial, but OK. Serve to less-welcome relatives. 2 - Pleasantly Civilized. Serve to people who don't owe you $$$. 3 - Especially Good. Serve to Persons of Quality. 4 - Epiphany + Nirvana; (Higher Level of Abstraction). Serve when house is paid off.
Notes: - or + inflections are sometimes added, if some suasive quality must be contemplated. All bottles are 750 ml, unless noted otherwise.

German Wines

Robert Eymael Mönchhof Erdener Treppchen 2003 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 3. Marvelous. Redolent of fruit; subtle tartness, very classy. About $18.
Dr. Heidemanns - Bergweiler 2002 Graacher Himmelreich (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 3-. Good balance of fruit & tartness; class, with decent finish. About $17.
Eifel-Pfeiffer Trittenheimer Apotheke 2001 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 3-. Quaffable & pleasant, but slightly overpriced . About $20.
Karl Erbes Ürziger Würzgarten 2006 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 3-. Mellow and pleasant, with witty peachy references. About $18.
Adolph Mueller Piesporter Michelsberg 2002 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 2+. Frisky with fruit and tartness; would buy again. About $9.
Das Ulrich Langguth Weingut - Piesporter Günterslay 2002 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 2+. Hardly offensive, but not especially memorable. About $17.
Josef Leitz Weingut Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz 2003 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 2+. Pleasant, but no lift-off; unassuming, with minimal finish . About $18.
Dr. Heidemanns - Bergweiler 2002 Bernkasteler Badstube (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 2+. Mellow, fruity; good finish. About $19.
Selbach-Oster - Zeltinger Sonnenuhr 2002 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 2+. Dr. Heidemanns Bergweiler clone, thus apodictically decent. About $24.
Ürziger Würzgarten 2002 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 2. Pleasant, but not exciting; would buy again. About $13.
Dr. H. Thanisch - Bernkasteler Lay 2003 (Riesling - Spätlese). Rating = 1+. Long finish, but cloying and untutored; definitely thanatic. About $20.

Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen - 2003 (Riesling - Auslese). Rating = 3. Extraordinary, with a wonderful equilibrium of fruit & bouquet. Good on 2nd bottle (& a bottle of the 2005). About $20.
Gysler Weinheimer Kapellenberg - 2003 (Huxelrebe - Auslese). Rating = 3. Deep woodland mysteries, effulgent with a marvelous golden glow. > $40.
Dr. Beckermann - 2006 (Rheinhessen - Auslese). Rating= 2+. Pleasant; fruity, but a bit sweet. About $6.

Rheinhessen Weingut Ernst Bretz - 2002 (Riesling - Eiswein). Rating = 3. Deep fruit, with hints of raisin. Distinguished & classy. About $25 (375 ml).
Bender Bissersheimer Held - 2003 (Silvaner Eiswein). Rating = 3-. Pleasant, but not extraordinary. Slightly heavy; raisin essences. About $36 (375 ml).

Austrian Wines

Kracher Burgenland - Grande Cuvee 1998 (Trockenbeeren Auslese). Rating = 3. Extraordinary but pricey, with deep fruit and heady night essences. About $80 (375 ml).

Other Wines

Selaks Marlborough - 2004 (New Zealand Ice Wine). Rating = 3. Positively decent. Subtle in its sweetness, and by no means overbearing. About $15 (375 ml).
Selaks Marlborough - 2005 (New Zealand Ice Wine - East Coast). Rating = 3. Maintains the same pleasantries as the 2004! About $15 (375 ml).
Quady Electra - 2002 (California Orange Muscat). Rating = 3-. Delightful. Sprightly and aromatic, with a superb balance of tartness and sweetness. About $10 (375 ml).
Kiona Yakima Valley Late Harvest 2005 (White Riesling). Rating = 3-. Special. Autumnal medley of harvest fruits... overtones of raisins and apricots. About $14 (375 ml).
Quady Essensia - 2004 (California Orange Muscat). Rating = 2+. Prosaic. Doesn't rise to the frisky, sunny attitude of the Quady Electra. About $10 (375 ml).
Linden Late Harvest Vidal 2004 (Virginia). Rating = 2+. Interesting, but probably not compelling; perhaps a trifle sweet. About $23..
Barossa Botrytis Semillon - 2001 (Australian Barossa). Rating 2+. Sort of charming, in a mouldy way, like a naive maiden with an old roué! About $16 (375 ml).
Chateau du Bloy - 2005 (Montravel Blanc). Rating = 2. Weird lemon taste, with a long finish. The white lessens the red. About $11. Also see other reviewer comments.
Bonny Doon Vineyard - 2004 (California Muscat Ice Wine). Rating = 2. Unrefined; syrupy, without finesse. Sledge-hammered sweetness; screw-top(!). N.B. A second bottle proved better than the one reviewed, and perhaps trumped the Chateau du Bloy red. In any case, consistency may be an issue. About $14 (375 ml).
Chateau du Bloy - 2003 (Bergerac Rouge). Rating = 2-. Bumptious; not quite right. Whispers of berets in the barnyard. About $11. Also see other reviewer comments.
Tedeschi Maui Blanc - ? (Hawaiian Pineapple). Rating 1. OMG! Appalling, "with natural pineapple flavors and carmel coloring". One glass is enough. Saviour of Chateau du Bloy! About $8.