Austria and German wine tasting at Cafe Maxx

“She lived frugally, but her meals were the only things on which she deliberately spent her money. She never compromised on the quality of her groceries, and drank only good-quality wines.” ― Haruki Murakami, 1Q84

We make it easy for you to pick out a good quality wine as that is all we have here at the Wine Watch and that is all we show at our wine tasting events!

After my first trip to German last year I have some stories to tell about the German estates on the table tonight.  Although I would have to say that I came back a bit confused with all the new nomenclature and the new laws that been implemented the last few decades to make German wine law easier to understand.  I would recommend waiting until they have everything worked out before you start studying German wine law.

Four thousand years of winemaking history counted for little after the "antifreeze scandal" of 1985, when it was revealed that some wine brokers had been adulterating their wines with diethylene glycol. The scandal destroyed the market for Austrian bulk wine and compelled Austria to reposition itself as a producer of quality wines.  This scandal also affected the German wines that were consumed within Germany as most of the locals now wanted "Trocken" or dry wines to ensure that they were not being served tainted wines.

Still to this day there are some that think of German wines as Blue Nun and Black Tower.  When today they are making a good amount of dry wines and some of the reds are very impressive.  One of the biggest wine epiphanies last year was the Pinot Noir from the Baden Region of Germany, which is only 3 hours as the crow flies from the Cotes de Nuits and even though I just discovered these wines they have been making Pinot Noir here for over 600 years!

These tastings at the Cafe Maxx for $35 are the best value of any event that we do. You get to try 8 different wines at the same time, pre-poured so they have a chance to open up and so you can go back through the line-up to get a second and third look at everything. This is how you learn about wine and with master chef Oliver Saucy sending out a few small courses to accompany the wines, you get a taste of Cafe Maxx and an education in wine all at the same time- A great way to spend happy hour.

Tonight we will feature wines from both Austria and Germany with some of the world’s greatest Rieslings and Gruner Veltliner they are also making excellent Pinot Noir in both of these countries. This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and is limited to 25 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $35 + Gratuity + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Austria and German wine tasting at Cafe Maxx

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

6:30 PM

Tasting Wines

Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rose Germany 2013

Price: $12.50       Sale $11.00          Case $128

The Villa Wolf Rosé de Pinot Noir is a true rosé, made with a brief maceration before pressing to extract a lovely salmon color. It is light and refreshing, with bright berry and fruit flavors and a clean, zippy finish.

Rainer Wess Gruner Veltliner Wachauer Austria 2013         

Price: $16.50       Sale $14.52          Case $169

The grapes for the Wachauer wines originate from flat sites in the towns of Unterloiben and Dürnstein. Here the alluvial soil is covered with some loess (windblown silt, clay and sand) layers. The grapes ripen early and are the first to be picked. These factors account for the aromatic, zesty, forward and uncomplicated character of Wachauer Grüner Veltliner and Rieslings. The wines have ample "cool" fruit in their bouquets and expressive citrus and stone fruits and minerals on the palate. The finishes are long and crisp. They are bottled in January and represent superb value.

Von Schubert Riesling Max Grunhauser Trocken Germany 2012                      

Price: $23.00       Sale $20.24          Case $235

The estate Riesling Trocken (dry) is a blend of the barrels that remain after the single-vineyard dry wines have been selected out of the overall production. The result is an entry-level dry Riesling that shows the characteristic minerality of the area and the refined style of the Grünhaus estate.

J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett Riesling Germany 2012          

rice: $32.00       Sale $28.16          Case $327

Just upstream from the famed Wehlener Sonnenuhr is the Graacher Himmelreich. With deeper, richer soils, this site is a little less steep and its south-west exposure ensures the wines from this site always have a racy and juicy acid background that really make the wines sing. The 2012 vintage presented weather conditions both challenging, then favorable, and it would do consumers well to follow advice from the Wine Spectator's 2012 vintage report: "For German wine fans, seeking out fastidious producers will be crucial when the 2012s hit the market." Such is the cellar of Joh. Jos. Prüm, where Manfred Prüm along with daughter Dr. Katharina Prüm, turn out perennially classic, collectible Rieslings.

Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese Germany 2012     

Price: $32.00       Sale $28.16          Case $327

Blazing red and insanely steep, the Ürziger Würzgarten (ERTS-ih-ger VERTS-gar-ten) vineyard fills the picturesque amphitheater formed by this dramatic bend in the river. It produces wines with exotic, spicy aromas that are bursting with tropical fruit flavors. The estate’s oldest vines are found here.

(91 Points) A savory style, with dried ginger notes to the supple flavors of ripe apple, dried apricot and Asian pear, accented by gooseberry hints. Ripe melon and spice details show on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 500 cases made. –KM wine Spectator, Issue: Feb 28, 2014

Becker Pinot Noir Estate Germany 2010                                 

Price: $22.25       Sale $19.58          Case $227

Friedrich Becker and his family own about 36 acres of vineyards in the southern part of the Pfalz region. He is one of the best producers in the Pfalz and one of the best Pinot Noir producers in Germany. 60% of his production is Pinot Noir which is grown primarily on stony, chalky soil. With time, his son, Friedrich Becker jun and his sister Helena have taken over more of the responsibilities at the winery along with co-cellar master Stefan Dorst.  The estate has been bottling and marketing its own wines since 1973. Vines are heavily pruned to restrict yields.

Schneider Nier Dornfelder Trocken Germany 2011              

Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20          Case $153

Dornfelder is a relatively recent arrival on the wine grape scene, having been created in 1956 by August Herold as a crossing of Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe. However, since Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe are also crossings, its lineage includes almost every red wine grape grown in Germany. It is especially important in the Rheinhessen and Pfalz regions and is the second most widely planted red grape variety in Germany.

Huber Zweigelt Austria 2012                                                    

Price: $17.00       Sale $14.96          Case $174

The Hubers have been winegrowers in Reichersdorf for ten generations. This 220 year history has culminated in the ascension of wunderkind Markus Huber as cellarmaster, and he has expanded on-site production beyond the previous limits of the family restaurant. He has also raised the quality to heights of excellence that demand worldwide attention. While Huber focuses on Grüner Veltliner, his Rieslings are just as radiant and commanding. Huber produces wines from two Erste Lagen (more or less objectively determined Premier Crus), Berg and Alte Setzen , which can be as majestic as the great wines from the Wachau. A spicy, edgy wine that has a soft fruit core and peppered finish, a hallmark of Zweigelt grown in Reichersdorf.

This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and is limited to 25 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $35 + Gratuity + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.