GINI Wine Tasting

AC: Only our 2nd time to taste white wine in our GINI gatherings. This batch of Riesling are all made by Balthasar Ress. They are 82 Rudesheim Berg Rottland Spatlese, 82 Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Kabinett, 90 Johannisberger Klaus Spatlese, and 98 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Spatlese. Been quite a while since I tasted these so don’t remember how they are like… Probably nice and sweet as how I remember most Rieslings. Easy to drink.

VW: 82 Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Kabinett – This seemed to be the most aromatic of the 4, although many think that it smell weird. It did smell better after sitting a while.. flowers mixed with petrol and some rubber. The taste pretty much reflect the nose with low acidity. I find the smell better than the taste as it passed it’s peak. Nonetheless, still a good drink.

82 Rudesheim Berg Rottland Spatlese – This has the deepest color, like golden yellowish. Honey and the same petrol on the nose but you need to swirl it alot to bring them out. Again low acidity with a more one dimensional palate than the Kabinett above. Sweeter, which probably explains why more prefer this to the previous. I think this has also passed prime but nothing really wrong so far. The Kabinett above has better balance but this provides more direct pleasure. So which one you like more is just personal preference.

90 Johannisberger Klaus Spatlese – This showed very different from the 82′s. Much more lively acidity and energy. Much lighter in color and showing more fruits and minerals. Clean and concentrated, this shows itself as coming from a good year. It is drinking well now and no need to wait any longer.

98 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Spatlese - Although this is youner than the 90 but I don’t find as much energy in this. Still higher acidity and fresher than both 82′s. This should be drunk up soon.