Went to a riesling tasting at a LWS this week. Other notes to be posted for the german/austrian and australian wines.

Pierre Sparr Riesling Reserve 2002 -
Oily and viscous. I don't know exactly what to expect from a $14 Alsace Riesling, but this was pretty disappointing. Flabby, with no clearly discernable fruit character.

Boxler Riesling Brand 2000 -
Complex and rich nose. Steely palate but still comes through with some ripe fruit. Lots of acid. Not yet opened up.

Trimbach Riesling "Clos St. Hune" 1991 -
Rich golden color. Complex, minerally nose. A great wine from an off year. Lots of mineral and chalky flavors, but a bit lacking in fruit. Somewhat austere. Past its prime?

raybanz

raybanz, first of all, thank you for the excellent notes.

Just a suggestion, it would be helpful if you put the names of the wines in the title, or better yet created a separate tn for each wine. It makes searching easier.

But as I said, you notes are very much appreciated no matter how they are presented.

jb

Quote:

---

Trimbach Riesling "Clos St. Hune" 1991 -
Rich golden color. Complex, minerally nose. A great wine from an off year. Lots of mineral and chalky flavors, but a bit lacking in fruit. Somewhat austere. Past its prime?

---

No. Just a [usually] great wine from an off year.

I've had CSH from '88, 89, and 90, and all are still on the upswing, with a lot of time ahead of them. Unfortunately, as you already know, this was a particularly weak vintage in Alsace. I'm surprised they even produced any of this wine; it would probably have been better to blend into a lesser bottling. I was served a glass at a winemaker's dinner a few years ago, and was surprised by its insipidness, or as you so kindly called it, "a bit lacking in fruit."

Re: 1991 Trimbach Riesling "Clos St. Hune"

Quote:

---

I was served a glass at a winemaker's dinner a few years ago, and was surprised by its insipidness, or as you so kindly called it, "a bit lacking in fruit."

---

I'm not opposed to the wine in general, but when the wine shop just describes it as "Alsace's most famous and longest-lived riesling," without any mention of the shortcomings of the vintage, it seems a little suspicious. Especially when they are asking $60/bottle.

$60 may be cheap for a Clos St. Hune, but it is definitely NOT a deal (IMHO) for the 1991.


raybanz