Our tasting group is back together, and I had saved up a representative sample of Dry Rieslings around the world to try. My notes don't show a lot of differences, as they all of similar style, with the possible exception of the Eugen Muller, and, of course, the final dessert wine. Also, I have not been tasting critically much lately, so I don't feel very sharp at the game now.
- Trimbach Riesling (Alsace) 1998 Just their basic bottling. Light, fresh, spicy, a little bit of yeast (subtle), a little sour apple.
- Lamoreaux Landing Dry Riesling (New York-Finger Lakes) 1999 Very creamy, with a bit of fresh bread, very soft. Heavier body than Trimbach. Salty and flinty. A little heavy in the finish. Typical Finger Lakes white wine with the mineral and fresh cream flavors.
- Lawson Dry Hills Malborough Riesling (New Zealand) 2000 A bit musty. At first I thought this bottle may be a little off, but the mustiness seemed to clear. Soft like bread with a little sour apple in the nose. Bigger than Lamoreaux Landing. Strong lemon and sour apple flavors.
- Forster Kirchenstock Spatlese Trocken Eugen Muller (Germany) 2000 Quite tart, very lemony, luscious nose. Like a lemon cream pie. This really shows the contrast between the Old World and New World styles.
- Eroica Riesling Chateau St. Michelle (Washington) 2001 Petrol nose. Sweet essence. Low acid. Very oily. Spicy black pepper. Well balanced. Nice wine.
This is the Ch. St. Michelle-Dr Loosen collaboration that I had been waiting to try. It appeared totally dry to me, regardless of what Wine Spectator claims. I was pleasantly surprised. None of the oily heavy-handedness of many west coast Rieslings (or else it melded well into the other flavors). Actually the first WA Riesling I have really liked. Has sufficient acidity to balance out the fruit, and manages sufficient ripeness without being overly heavy.
Now if I can just afford their Eiswein.
- Bonny Doon Critique of Pure Riesling (California) 1999 Actually made from Washington grapes. Nose of home perm. At first, smooth, a little mineral flavor. tasted later. Spicy, metallic. A little bit of lemon. Quite acidic. This seemed to be a little out of balance to me. Maybe early harvesting? I liked the Eroica better.
7.Pikes Riesling (Australia) 2000 Very light. Almost sweet. Low acid, smooth. Softer than Bonny Doon. I guess I like the last two wines a little less than the others. This is the first Aussie Riesling I have tried, and I definitely want to try more.
8.Piesporter Domherr Auslese Rheinholt Haart (Germany) 2001 Very light, delicate dessert wine. A little bit of baked bread. Funky flavors. Musty green apple finish, but everyone liked this. Again, the funky flavors were subtle, so this wine worked.I didn't take a formal poll, but I think most people liked the Trimbach for its delicateness and subtlety, and the Eroica. I did not have a strong favorite but I think I liked 1,2, 4, and 5 among the dry wines.
I am definitely inexperienced at tasting Dry Rieslings, but I am anxius to try a number sampling (some different wines) in the spring. Yes, I will have a more upscale Trimbach (Cuvee Emile) and a representative from Austria.
Tom Schellberg