Wine Reviews & Recommendations

Italian & German Whites,
Red Bordeaux Wine

European white wines from Italy and Germany, and moderately priced red Bordeaux (France) are my themes this month.

The 2005 vintage in Europe was
an excellent one, yielding white
and red wines that are finely flavored and well balanced—
indeed, that are “classic” in character. Those recommended here are now beginning to drink well, meaning that their aromas
and flavors are a bit more open
and their textures are somewhat
more supple and integrated than
when they were first released.

The 2003 vintage in Europe was extremely warm, and produced relatively rich wines across the board. In Bordeaux, the vintage yielded extremely successful—and unusually full flavored—lesser wines, including those recommended here.

Recommended Italian White Wines

Jermann – Venezia Giulia (IGT)
* 2005 CHARDONNAY, $33-35
* 2005 PINOT GRIGIO, $30-32
* 2005 VINNAE, $33-35

Jermann is one of Italy’s premier white wine producers, and has been for 30 years. These are refreshing, full bodied wines, with delicate, intense varietal character. The Chardonnay (screw cap closure) is elegant in style, full bodied, crisp, and long on the finish, tasting of passion fruit, peach, baked bread, pear, and creme caramel. The Pinot Grigio is a fine example of the varietal: fragrant, ripely flavored, full bodied, and long on the palate, tasting of pink grapefruit, pear, baked apple, and baked bread. Vinnae is a Ribolla Gialla blend (screw cap closure). It is a complex, full bodied wine that is supple, moderately rich, and crisp and long on the palate. It tastes of roasted nut, caramel, baked apple, candied lemon, and grapefruit. Drink through the end of 2007.

Find Jermann wine at local wine stores

Recommended German White Wines

Monchhof
* 2005 ESTATE RIESLING, MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER Qualitatswein, $13-$15
* 2005 MOSEL SLATE RIESLING SPATLESE, $18-$20

Monchhof excelled in 2005, and both wines are terrific values. The Estate Riesling is actually an unchaptalized Spatlese. It is floral and fruity in character (jasmine, grapefruit, apple), light bodied, crisp, and long on the finish. AP #012. Mosel Slate is from the Erdener Treppchen vineyard. Very fine in aroma and flavor (honeysuckle, apple, with hints of lime), light bodied, intensely flavored, well balanced, and extremely long on the finish. Drink through 2010.

Find Monchhof wine at local wine stores

Weingut Johannishof
* 2005 JOHANNISBERG "V" RIESLING KABINETT, $19-$21
* 2005 JOHANNISBERG "G" RIESLING KABINETT, $19-$21
* 2005 RUDESHEIMER BERG ROTTLAND RIESLING SPATLESE, $25-$27

Wonderful Rieslings. The “V” Kabinett (Vogelsang vineyard) is round, medium bodied, and quite intense in character, tasting of peach, apple, and honeysuckle, with a spicy finish. AP #009. The “G” Kabinett (Goldatzel vineyard) is stunning: intensely fruity (peach, cherimoya, with jasmine overtones), round, rich, and long on the finish. AP #010. The Spatlese is quite powerful and rich, with intense character, excellent balance, and a very long finish, tasting of peach, cherimoya, spearmint, and honeysuckle. AP #014. Drink through 2010.

Find Weingut Johannishof wine at local wine stores

Weingut P.J. Valckenberg
* 2005 RHEINHESSEN Qualitatswein, RIESLING TROCKEN, $11-$13
* 2005 ESTATE RIESLING KABINETT, $15-$17

These are two excellent, good value Rieslings. The Trocken is medium bodied, quite intense in flavor, and long on the finish, tasting of ripe fruit (apple, peach), with spicy, floral overtones. AP #22. The Kabinett is Vino-Seal stoppered. It is ripely flavored, round, fruity Kabinett, with good depth and a long, spicy finish, tasting of apple, with citrus, jasmine, and peach overtones. From the Wormser Liebfrauenstift-Kirchenstuck vineyard. AP #17. Drink through 2010.

Find Weingut P.J. Valckenberg wine at local wine stores

Recommended Red Bordeaux Wines

Chateau La Rose LaTour Blanche
2005 BORDEAUX
$8-$9

Grapey and youthful, this is a full bodied, moderately intense, yet well balanced wine, with a hint of oak on the finish. It tastes of black currant, toast, and plum. Drink through 2010.

Find Chateau La Rose LaTour Blanche wine at local wine stores

Chateau Lyonnat
2003 LUSSAC-SAINT-EMILION
$18-$20

Excellent: fleshy, full bodied, ripe and long on the palate, with medium richness. It tastes of black currant, spicy oak, herbs, and baked potato skin. Drink through 2009.

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Chateau Mazeris
2003 CANON FRONSAC
$22-$24

Great value. This is a full bodied, medium rich wine, with supple texture, blackberry and blackcurrant fruitiness, and a long, lightly tannic finish. Drink through 2011.

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Chateau Recougne
2003 BORDEAUX SUPERIEURE
$10-$12

Full bodied, round, and fairly rich (for the appellation), this is lightly oaked wine, with a medium long finish, with fruity, spicy flavors. Excellent value. Drink through 2009.

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Chateau Siaurac
2003 LALANDE DE POMEROL
$23-$25

A round, medium rich, full bodied wine, with light oakiness, intense ripe fruit character (plum, blackcurrant), and a long, lightly tannic finish. Excellent value. Drink through 2010.

Find Chateau Siaurac wine at local wine stores

-- RW

Related Wine Resources If you enjoyed these wine reviews, you might also find the following wine resources to be useful: March '07: 3 Kinds of Pinot for "Pinot Month"! Glossary of Wine Terms Types of Wine Around the World How to Serve Wine Choosing Wine Glasses