My regional wine shop in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, held a New World vs. Old World comparative testing tonight.
As an apertif we had Riesling. Nelson Greenhough 2004 Riesling, New Zealand Flinty nose, lots of minerality and acidity on the palate
F.J. Eifel Trittenheimer Altaerchen Riesling (Mosel) I found this to have an almost nutty taste to it. I originally prefered the New Zealand riesling, but as the wine came up to temperature I came around to the German riesling.
With a terrine of white asparagus and salmon over a salad of leaf lettuce and marinated green and white asparagus:
Ken Forester 2005 Stellenbosch Sav. Blanc and 2005 Jean teiller Menetou Salaon (Loire) Based on the nose I immediately guessed the French wine to be New World because it much more closely matched the Kim Crawford and Nautilus sav blancs I am famiiar with.
Chardonnay:
2000 Wishaart Chardonnay Reserve (Hawke's Bay), New Zealand Deep golden yellow, obvious oak. I found this to be rather medicinal at first but with a very nice finish.
2004 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey (Rully) Burgundy Much paler yellow, nose reminded me of popcorn, but a very very nice wine with good fruit flavors.
Viognier:
2002 Uiterwyk, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2002 Michel Gerin La Loye, Condrieu, Rhone Initially both very nice wines with wonderful honeyed noses. The South African faded quickly in the glass, however. I have often heard the Condrieus praised here, and after tonight I understand why. My wine of the night. Unfortunately, not one that I will be buying in quantity at
30,60 euros a bottle.
Pinot Noir:
2003 Nelson Greenhough, New Zealand
2004 Cecile Tremblay Bourgogne, Burgundy I preferred the Tremblay for its cherry flavors. Our host, Gault Millau sommelier of the year 2006 for Germany Stefan Weise, suggested that the Tremblay is a wine with its future to look forward to while the Greenhough has passed its peak. I just know that I preferred the Tremblay.
Shiraz: Served with braised ox cheeks, gnocchi and sauteed carrots and celery:
2001 Uiterwyk Stellenbsoch, South Africa
2003 Entretan Cuvee Polere, Minervois I found the Minervois to be quite tannic on its own, but with food it easily outshone the New World competition
Bordeaux:
2000 Wishart Merlot, Cab. Sav. and Malbec, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand - corked. Replaced by a 1996 Paul Sauer Kanonkop. This was 2/3 Cab Sav and 1/3 Merlot.
2000 Chateau Laplagnotte Bellevue, Laplagnotte, Bordeaux. This was 2/3 Merlot and 1/3 Cab Sav. Both of these wines were well received by our small group, with the Laplognotte being voted red of the night by the group. I preferred the Paul Sauer, whcih was less tannic, softer and more "finished" than the French wine.
This was the second tasting that I attended at this shop, and the second time that I had simply a wonderful time. Great hosts and nice people in the group. I only wish that I lived closer and didn't have to worry about driving home afterward.
My wines of the night were the Condrieu and the Paul Sauer. The group voted for the Trittenheimer Altärchen and the Chateau Laplognotte.
I'm sorry that I couldn't provide better notes. I hope to attend a "sensory perception" class there with a variety of aromas. Hopefully I can do a better job at describing wines then.
Dave