German/Austrian Wine Tasting at Cafe Maxx

“It’s a bold wine with a hint of sophistication and lacking in pretension.  Actually, I was just talking about myself.”

French Kiss (1995) – Kate (Meg Ryan)

German/Austrian Wine Tasting at Cafe Maxx
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
6:30 PM

Germany was once only known for their sweet white wines and although Blue Nun and Black Tower are not the rage today most people still think sweet and white when it comes to Germany. As far as Austrian wines go most people have never even tried a Gruner Veltliner, nor can they pronounce it. Tonight we will turn you on to the latest and greatest from Germany- dry Rieslings and a few Eclectic whites and reds from their neighbor Austria. Chef Oliver Saucy will be sending out a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines. The fee for this tasting event is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-782-0606.

Tasting Line-up:

Dr. L Sparkling Riesling NV
Price: $15.75     Sale $13.86                   Case $161

This may be a first for most of the tasters as sparkling wines are not the most popular of all the German wines but they do make some very pleasing sparklers like this Dr. L Riesling, that is a real crowd pleaser.

Huber Gruner Veltliner Hugo Traisental Austria 2009     
Price: $13.50     Sale $11.88                   Case $138

(85 Points) Very crisp fruit, with light acidity and a taut character. A lively wine, bright and vivacious, packed with citrus. Screwcap.  Wine Enthusiast

Laurenz Singing Gruner Veltliner 2009
Price: $15.75     Sale $13.86       Case $161

A very attractive fruit bouquet yields apple, peach and citrus aromas along with a typical Veltliner spiciness and a touch of white pepper. The soft and juicy palate is supported by fine acidity. It sings on the palate! - Winemaker's notes

Laurenz Charming Gruner Veltliner 2006
Price: $27.75     Sale $24.42       Case $283

Showing a nice flinty mineral highlight to the pear and lemon lime citrus fruit a good amount of minerality here on the nose more complex than the new release.  Total production 3,000 to 5,000, entire production less than 40,000 cases.  Nice tongue tingly acidity still here round ripe tree fruit with wonderful freshness still but not far off from the 2009.  Finish 40+ Excellent

Robert Weil Riesling trocken Rheingau 2009
Price: $30         Sale $26.40                   Case $306

(89 Points)  The Weil 2009 Kiedricher Riesling trocken represents a new “village level” bottling corresponding to the Burgundian classificatory conception (or, depending on ones attitude, “fantasies”) of the VDP. The raw materials come from younger vines and from the pre-harvest thinning of the estates three top sites. At 12.8% alcohol, this exhibits both amplitude and ripe pit fruit flavors, yet there is a welcome sense of levity as well as clarity of fruit, with saliva-inducing salinity and chalkiness showing through. This wines uncompromising sense of dryness may strike some tasters as a bit austere, but it offers a lot of satisfaction. What some might term Rheingau reserve or aloofness will register with others as subtlety. Expect at least 4-6 years of good (vinous) health.   eRobertParker.com # 192, Jan 2011

Weingut Robert Weil Riesling Estate Dry Rheingau 2006
Price: $23.75     Sale $20.90       Case $242

(90 points) Loads of spice, mineral, grapefruit and apricot mark this rich, yet vibrant dry Riesling. Racy yet well-balanced, with a lingering finish. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases imported. –BS Wine Spectator April 2008

Milz Laurentiushof Riesling Spatlese Trettenheimer Leiterchen 2006
Price: $16.50     Sale $14.52       Case $168

(90 points)  A creamy texture and concentrated flavors of apricot and peaches and cream take on an orange edge too as this unfolds on the palate. Shows a mineral accent on the firm finish. Drink now through 2025. 100 cases imported. –BS Wine Spectator March 2008

Knoll Riesling Federspiel Wachau Austria 2009
Price: $32         Sale $28.16       Case $326

“Federspiel” is the category for those wines with a weight of must of 17°KMW and an alcohol strength between 11,5 ans 12,5vol.%.  These wines are without exception classically dry fermented and represent specialties which can only be reached in good years and excel with their fruity character and powerful delicacy.  Wines of the definition “Federspiel” join the “Steinfeder” type and can be produced from every white grape of good quality grown in the Wachau. Additionally to the legal requirements these wines are subject to the strict inspections of “Vinea Wachau”.  The name “Federspiel” was inspired by the term for bringing back the bird of prey to its falconer during hunt – falconry was an old lorldy custom widely spread in the Wachau.

Reinisch Pinot Noir Thermanregion Austria 2008
Price: $24         Sale $21.12       Case $245

The grapes for this Pinot Noir come mostly from the vineyards around Tattendorf where the soil offers high lime content and is the ideal location for Burgundian grapes.

Preisinger Basic  Zweigelt-St Laurent Burgenland Austria 2008 
Price: $17.75     Sale $15.62       Case $181

Claus Preisinger is one of Burgenland’s triple threat winemakers; he is young, extremely talented, and ambitious. He focuses almost solely on making high quality, character driven Zweigelt based wines from 15 hectares of vineyards. The majority of Preisinger’s tight, dynamic portfolio consist of a straight Zweigelt and the red blend Heideboden, but also includes small quantities of a stellar Pinot Noir, Pannobile, and the flagship bottling Paradigma.