2017 Salwey Grauburgunder: so perfect that you should not try this at home

[Rahsaan]

My friendly reminder that the joy of wine is more than ‘what’s in the glass’. I occasionally drink Salwey Grauburgunder, but never at home and I never give much thought to it. But last night, sitting outside alongside the Landwehrkanal in Berlin and eating a refined meal, the 2017 Salwey Oberrottweil Grauburgunder “RS” was amazing.

Deep full fruit, intense mineral tingle, nice grip and shape. Everything you would want to gulp with your food in such a setting. The flavors were not the most complex, which is where it probably would have lost my attention at home in the kitchen or dining room. But for this occasion it was the perfect pure wine joy.

I am tempted to press my luck, but most likely I should not try this at home!

 

[Jeff Grossman]

So, it's vacation wine?

 

[Rahsaan]

Probably a step up from the rose that is magical in Provence and vapid in the States.

But yes, that would be a more succinct way of putting things!

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

originally posted by Rahsaan:
Probably a step up from the rose that is magical in Provence and vapid in the States.

woah! I understand if you don't want to pay KLWM's prices for Bandol rose - neither do I - but they are fantastic. So there must be others that are imported and worthy, no? I haven't explored, as I am very happy with both prices and quality in the Languedoc and, if carefully picked, in Nimes and Ventoux.

(That said, I realize you are probably talking about random rose ordered for lunch while roaming around Provence, in which case your point is well-taken).

p.s. appreciate the grau post, keep 'em coming.

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:

originally posted by Rahsaan:
Probably a step up from the rose that is magical in Provence and vapid in the States.

woah! I understand if you don't want to pay KLWM's prices for Bandol rose - neither do I - but they are fantastic. So there must be others that are imported and worthy, no? I haven't explored, as I am very happy with both prices and quality in the Languedoc and, if carefully picked, in Nimes and Ventoux.

(That said, I realize you are probably talking about random rose ordered for lunch while roaming around Provence, in which case your point is well-taken).

p.s. appreciate the grau post, keep 'em coming.

Ott and Tempier's rosés are, of course, ridiculously overpriced. But if you like Bandol rosé, you could do worse than buy Bastide Blanche. I generally wait until the fall, when they all go on sale and can find is for $20 or less at Weygandt's here. Then I drink it the next summer. This work's for Charvin's rosés, which I also like.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:

p.s. appreciate the grau post, keep 'em coming.

Will see. I have nothing against grauburgunder, especially in restaurants. But I am usually so tempted by the overflowing riesling options in Germany that I rarely drink grauburgunder at home. This Salwey almost had me motivated to dig further. Will see how that translates to actual purchases.

 

[robert ames]

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:

originally posted by Rahsaan:
Probably a step up from the rose that is magical in Provence and vapid in the States.

woah! I understand if you don't want to pay KLWM's prices for Bandol rose - neither do I - but they are fantastic. So there must be others that are imported and worthy, no? I haven't explored, as I am very happy with both prices and quality in the Languedoc and, if carefully picked, in Nimes and Ventoux.

(That said, I realize you are probably talking about random rose ordered for lunch while roaming around Provence, in which case your point is well-taken).

p.s. appreciate the grau post, keep 'em coming.

Ott and Tempier's rosés are, of course, ridiculously overpriced. But if you like Bandol rosé, you could do worse than buy Bastide Blanche. I generally wait until the fall, when they all go on sale and can find is for $20 or less at Weygandt's here. Then I drink it the next summer. This work's for Charvin's rosés, which I also like.

jonathan--what's your take on the cuvee fontaneou and cuvee estagnol bandol's from bastide blanche? they seem to be built for extended bottle age, with more than ample rewards in the end.

the 2016s just rolled into town and, once again, screaming bargains compared to the fancy tempier bottlings.

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

I have aged to fontaneou for around 12 years or so with great success before I wind up drinking them all up. I'm sur they will go longer. Although I've always liked the estangnol, when I taste them side by side I always a)prefer the fontaneou and b)don't consider the estangol different enough to buy them both. I should keep them longer, but I need something to keep my hands off the tempier, and the pibarnon, when I can find that one.