So, who said German wine labels were confusing? I'd love to know the reaction of asking the kind man reading FHM behind the counter at Bargain Booze whether he had any of this particular wine in stock. Throwing this mouthfull of a wine out at the average high street off-license would probably get you chucked out the store with the shop assistant accusing you of calling his son a shiteganger. So Germany really needs to simplify their wine labels, the average consumer in the UK, sure a hell isn't going to take the time to learn the Qba hierarchy or ripeness indicators. The label is important, and German labels are one of the main obstructions to people enjoying these great wines. Ask any sommelier and they'll tell you how much they admire German Riesling, but then ask them what wine they struggle to sell and, what a surprise, it will be the German Rielsing. The trade loves it because they know and understand it. Check out this page on getting to grips with German wine from winepage. There are a couple of simple words to look out for "trocken" which means the wine will be dry (not sweet, think NZ Riesling) or "halbtrocken" which means semi-dry ( There will be some sweetness there). Sweetness in wine really shouldn't put people off as with these Germanic wines the sweet taste will be counter-balenced against the natural grape acidity. This balence creates an mouth-filling wine, lovely texture with a refreshing zing on the finish that lifts the sweetness and stops it becoming cloying (cloying like Cadburys chocolate). These wines are perfect aperitif wines. After long days of feeling like you're getting nowhere, tube rides with all the other slightly worn down and sweaty people, walking along grubby streets with broken glass and irregular paving whilst the sun sets as a Tango'd congé for the city's concrete and cramped existance. This is when to drink these wines, pull the bottle from the fridge, slide the cork from the elegant neck and pour yourself a glass. Sit back and escape.
Weingut Albert Gessinger, Zeitinger Sonnenuhr Auslese 1976. I bought a half bottle of this wine when I was last up in Edinburgh for an absolute bargain price of £15 at Edinburgh Wine Merchants. The nose gave up honey, bee's wax and a slight wet stone minerality. The wine came out as a bright yellow gold. From the glass to the palette this wine gave a lovely velvet texture enclosing a resolute acidity keeping the wine fresh. Honey notes intermingle with floral tones. Surprisinly fresh and light. This wine delivers a good balance with a definite mineral quality. Well worth the money, especially for a wine with that much age on it.
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