Riesling dinner

[Rahsaan]

First was 1986 Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Kabinett, which was a lovely match with a cucumber salad lightly topped with a feta-based dressing. The wine may have tilted a bit sour and simple, but there was still some underlying structural integrity and it was a nice way to dance some wine across the tongue and get everybody settled in for the evening.

Things changed when we moved to the 2009 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Spätlese Trocken 'R'. The wine makes quite an impression with its chewy thick texture, but there is also a streak of lightness and airiness floating through the wine. I couldn't even begin to analyze all the flavors, but there were plenty. It was a great match with my Baltic salmon, chanterelles and semmelknödel. (And yes I want to drink more of this, soon!)

Finally, the crowd wanted a liquid dessert, and who was I to protest. A nice bottle of 2009 R. Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Auslese was sweet but juicy, and felt 'fresh' after the KR. This was the biggest crowd pleaser among a table of non-geeks. But regardless of favorites, we were all happy.

 

[Robert Dentice]

Great wines! I had the 86 a couple of months ago and it was beautiful! I had the 2007 KR Kallstadter Saumagen Auslese Trocken RR on Friday! Wow what a wine but not sure how much age it will need before it hits a peak drinking window.

 

[Salil Benegal]

Those Saumagen trockens are really something. Just a shame about recent pricing.

And old Grünhaus is always special.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Robert Dentice: I had the 2007 KR Kallstadter Saumagen Auslese Trocken RR on Friday! Wow what a wine but not sure how much age it will need before it hits a peak drinking window.

Nice. I was hesitating between the 09/08 Spätlese trocken R, or the 07/04 Auslese Trocken R. I thought the 09 would be the easiest to drink without extended preparation (although it was decanted maybe 15 minutes before we started drinking), but I am very curious about the Auslese and the RR.

originally posted by Salil Benegal:
Those Saumagen trockens are really something. Just a shame about recent pricing.

After this dinner I looked them up and was a bit demotivated (as always) by the US pricing. If you find yourself in Berlin wanting to drink KR Saumagen, get thee to Rutz. Our 09 Spätlese R was 83euros on the list, and would have been 65euros to buy to take home. I may have to return this week before my return to NC, despite the fact that I'm already overloaded with wine!

 

[Salil Benegal]

I don't remember the prices being that steep when Theise/Skurnik brought KR in. They've gotten astonishingly high lately. Then again there's also been a lot more focus on trocken Riesling in the US market lately.

When do you get back to NC?

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Salil Benegal:

When do you get back to NC?

Exactly one week from today. Hard to believe!

 

[mark e]

originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by Salil Benegal:

When do you get back to NC?

Exactly one week from today. Hard to believe!

I'm very curious if you have found any place in central NC to buy wine now that Cave Taureau is closed. I haven't.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by mark e:

I'm very curious if you have found any place in central NC to buy wine now that Cave Taureau is closed. I haven't.

I've been in Germany since January, so was away when it all went down and have not really come to grips with the whole thing. I want to talk to Noel when I get back, in part because he's holding wine for me, but also to see if anything has come of his idea to keep selling wine without the brick-and-mortar store. Otherwise, I'm not hopeful about local options!