The weather on first day and night of Spring was fabulous in the Boston area. After the long winter of red wine drinking, the weather enticed me to drink white. So I did.
Four fabulous German whites from deep in the cellar were dug out for this momentous occasion. 70 degrees in Boston in March is truly momentous.
Four great wines from four great regions in Germany, all of Spatlese quality, all of them old, and all of them delicious.
Egon Muller Scharzhofberger 1996 Spatlese had an extruded cork that broke through the top of the capsule. I had little hope for the wine. I was proven wrong. Just a glint of gold in the color and classic petrol aromas enhanced by a hint of apple, this wine although tasty at the beginning of the evening was the eventual best bottle by far after an hour in. Loved it with roasted root veggies.
The Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg 1999 Spatlese was the winner right from the start. Oodles of green apple fruit with perfectly clashing acidity, even the waitress when she opened the bottle went OOOH. Sadly it faded after an hour, still delicious but the others started to beat up on it. Worked very nicely early with the stuffed sole.
The 2001 J. J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese was a marvel! The cork was reluctant to come out, but after reaming the corkscrew through, I was rewarded with wonderful spritz in the ultimate Mosel wine. Watching the fine fine bubbles come up through the bottle but dissappear in the glass was amazing. Classic apple-fusel aromas and flavors permeated through the wine's evening. This is the one I just wanted to sip and savor. Food optional.
Finally the 2002 Langwerth von Simmern Erbacher Marcobrunn Spatlesewas slowest to come out of the glass. Never felt it was flawed, but it needed more than coaxing to come out of the glass. About an hour it, it showed the power and finesse of classic Rheingau Rieslling. It was fun to go back and forth after the first hour with the Scharzhofberger.
The perfect start to the Spring tasting season.
4 more down, 595 to go.
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