Just a day after that VDP wine auction for the Rheingau region, I returned to Kloster Eberbach for the big public presentation of 2010 Great Growth wines of all VDP member estates. Since I missed previous opportunities to taste these wines, I was more than happy to attend this brilliant event.

The 2010 vintage didn’t have an easy start as numerous media already condemned it as a sour (white) wine vintage at a time when harvest wasn’t even fully brought in. And it’s true that for many of the estate’s basic Rieslings, qualities are rather heterogenous. For the Great Growths however, I read more and more opinons that are highly praising this new vintage, even putting it above last year’s great success. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many ways to end the old year and start the new one. But for many there is one constant: drinking Champagne or other sparkling wines. Is it the only acceptable beverage for celebrating? For us, Riesling turned out to be a great alternative. And if you think about it, the symbolism works: freshness and juiciness stand for rejuvenation or a new beginning. Exactly what we wish for. Plus we had some nice bottles to uncork:

2009 Schieferterrassen Riesling, Heymann-Löwenstein, Mosel - Compelling nose of gunpowder and yellow fruit for this still off-dry Mosel Riesling. Even flintier smell than its brother wine Vom blauen Schiefer.The wine doesn’t appear sweet, rather balanced out by the power of 13% alcohol (without feeling alcoholic). Acidity is so well integrated you would think it Read the rest of this entry »