2008 Hans Wirsching Silvaner Trocken (Iphofer Kronsberg)

Source: Viscount

Consumption Date: 4/29/2012

Notes: Extremely pale yellow color.  Fine aroma of forest vegetation, wet chalk, and a hint of ripe white grape.  Light bodied, but with relatively bold flavors of forest, ripe white grapes, and chalk with a hint of spice and herbs framed by a pleasant, crisp acidity.  Surprisingly long finish of ripe grape and apple.

This has proven to be an interesting contrast to the Alsatian Silvaner I recently drank.  While not as full bodied or sweet (relatively speaking), as the Alsatian wine, this has surprising depth and much more acidic minerality, which is a characteristic I really enjoy when I find it in a white wine.  Overall, very enjoyable and a good candidate for a high quality, every day wine.  A Rudi Wiest selection.  Good value.

2002 Dom. Roulot Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru

Source: Burgundy Wine Company

Consumption Date: 4/25/2012

Notes: Mild, but complex aroma of spices, earth, cherry fruit, and perhaps medicinal herbs (as well as other components I cannot place).  Light bodied, but with bright ripe cherry fruit; spices; a pleasant, mild, musky earthiness; and perhaps a faint hint of tar framed with a fine acidic, minerality.  More of the same on the moderately long finish, plus some toasty, vanilla oak notes.  Mild tannin.

A nice example of a Burgundy from a lesser appellation in a fine vintage.  Although light in body, it has plenty of complexity and enough fruit to be both interesting and enjoyable.  The most obvious indications of its lesser status are it lack of “funk” in the aroma, its light body, and its relative lack of depth and complexity.  Still, this is another interesting milestone on my journey to understanding Burgundy.  A Kermit Lynch selection.  Somewhat above average value.

2002 Charles Schleret Sylvaner 'Cuvee Reserve' (Alsace)

Source: Rosenthal Wine Merchant


Consumption Date: 4/23/2012

Notes: Brilliant golden color.  Mild aroma of white grapes with a hint of pine and a characteristic “forest” aroma that I can’t quite place.  Full bodied with a plenty of musky, ripe fruit (more grape as well as apple), a distinctive “forest” note, and hints of pine and baking spices.  Moderate finish of fruit with a nice buttery sweetness.

This wine has been another pleasant surprise (after a long dry spell).  It has the aroma and flavor characteristics I remember from the basic Sylvaner I had from this producer some years ago, but with additional depth, concentration, and sweetness.  While I am not normally a fan of sweet wines, this carries its sweetness well (presumably due to balanced acidity), similar to a Riesling Auslese (although much less fine, floral, or mineral than the latter).  This wine is one of the gems that I look for: well made with evocative flavors and an excellent value.  A Rosenthal selection.