Jane's Weekly Wines 
from the Atlanta Wine School

PRINT AND GO VERSION
August 10th, 2006
Taste of Germany
	
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Kloster Eberbach Steinberger Riesling Kabinett 2002
Rheingau

Medium-bodied off-dry white wine; medium pale straw.  Aromas of fresh fruit, 
a trace of mandarin orange peel, with juicy crisp pear flavors. A crisp, long, 
palate-refreshing finish  Perfect balance, with integration of fruit and 
acidity. Elegant and supremely food-friendly. Just 9% alc. The Rheingau 
lies on the east bank of the Rhine between Weissbaden and Lorchhausen, 
which is the boundary of the Mittelrhein. Some vineyards also are near 
Hockheim, source of the word "hock," a generic term used mostly in England 
to to denote Rhine wines. Chilled for about 20 minutes, to about 55 degrees, 
and served in tall tulip-shaped glasses.

Wide variety: creamy Thai shrimp salad with lemongrass; fried calamari with 
spicy aďoli; fried catfish or shrimp with caper-studded tartar sauce or 
ręmoulade; grilled bacon-wrapped giant scallops with honey-mustard 
mayonnaise; cold Chinese noodles with peanut sauce;  bok choy salad with 
sesame oil, ginger and soy sauce dressing, creamy mild curried chicken 
with raisins; lemon/olive chicken

Northeast Wholesale
$18
90

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Hans Wirsching Silvaner 2004
Franconia (a/k/a Franken)

Light- to medium-bodied dry white wine; medium straw. Some what shy pear fruit 
aromas; classic steely fruit (pear) flavors. Persistent, steeling, mineral-rich 
long finish, with a hint of lemon and minerals emerging in the finish and a 
touch of dried herb. Bracing, clean. Moderate alcohol (12%). Very good 
example of the genre. Not in the traditional Bocksbeutel (a flat-sided, 
short-necked, round bottle--perfect for saddlebags). Also in screwcap 
closure--breaking lots of rules. Chilled, about 55 degrees, in tall 
tulip-shaped glasses.

Light, uncomplicated fare, perhaps best as an aperitif wine: Smoked 
salmon terrine; grilled scallops with tartar sauce; cod, catfish, 
tilapia or halibut fillet lightly floured and sautéed; goat cheese; 
fried shrimp or calamari with aďoli, cocktail sandwiches with white meats

Prestige Wine Wholesale
90
$14

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Weingut Braun Grauburgunder 2004
Pfalz

Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium pale yellow. Aromas of white peach, pear, 
with flavors to match. Classic flavors with good acidity, fruit and 
finish--balanced. The peach/apple character draws a bead on the finish 
right from the aromas. Adds another dimension to understanding this 
grape: a/k/a Pinot Grigio; Pinot Gris, and Ruländer, which tends to 
denote a sweeter style than Grauburgunder. The Pfalz extends south of 
the Rheinhessen pointing a finger along the Rhine River toward Alsace. 

Assertive and exotic flavors: mildly seasoned Indian-style dishes; 
lentil salad with orange segments; chicken salad with mango chutney and 
red pepper; ham salad; not spicy hot Thai-style shrimp with lemongrass; 
mild Thai curries with coconut milk, butterkĺse (butter cheese); 
roast pork pr baled chicken with Vidalia onion/peach salsa

Continental Beverage
$13
89

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Grantschen Lemberger Qualitätswein 2001
Württemberg

Light-bodied dry red wine; medium cherry red. Lively aromas of dried dark 
fruits, with surprisingly(given its weight) robust red fruit flavors, both 
fresh and dried. Touch of currants, cranberry. Nice acidity. Easy tannins. 
Grape: Lemberger, a/k/a Blaufränkisch in Austria. Also widely grown in 
Washington State (e.g., Kiona). Modest alcohol: 12%. Good at room 
temperature, but perhaps better a little cooler, in a Burgundy-type glass. 
Nice value Fairly large, Württemberg runs along the Neckar River between 
Stuttgart and Heilbronn. Steep terraced vine-laden slops sweet up from the river. 

Lots of foods: Smoked liverwurst; pâté, grilled bratwurst; salamis and 
sausages; black olives; rabbit or chicken hunter style (chasseur); 
roast duck; grilled salmon or tuna, grilled veal chop stuffed with 
prosciutto or other ham; grilled lamb chop; duck; roast pork with 
mustard cream sauce; chicken with caramelized onions, roast chicken, 
grilled or roasted vegetables; mushrooms. 

Continental Beverage
$13
90

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N. Ponsart Spătburgunder Qualitătswein Trocken 2004
Ahr

Medium-bodied dry red wine; `medium dark cherry red. Warm earthy aromas, 
truffle, followed by dark cherry flavors with touches of aromatic brown spice. 
Chewy texture, with good acidity through the finish. Fruit/acid well integrated. 
Easy tannins. A bit of alcohol heat, although oak and fruit are in good balance.  
Grape: Spătburgunder (a/k/a Pinot Noir). Dry Spătburgunder from the Ahr is 
hard to find/ this is a good one. The Ahr is a small region named for a 
river that flows into the Rhine. Serve at cool room temperature to temper 
the alcohol a bit; use Burgundy glasses.

Rich foods: Smoked liverwurst; pâté; roast duck; lamb; prime rib; Delmonico 
or rib steak; medium-weight veal or lamb stews; braised short ribs; roast 
pork stuffed with prunes; coq au vin; braised beef; roast pork; mild aged 
cheeses

Northeast Wholesale
$29 
89

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Rudolph Müller Riesling Eiswein 2004
Rheinhessen 

Medium-bodied sweet white wine; medium gold. Aromas of fresh apricots, 
with flavors that merge apricot, ginger, flavors pick up apricot, nectar, 
and peach. Good acidity keeps the wine from becoming cloying, and ensures 
a good, long finish. Sweet but not overpowering. Moderate alcohol: 8%. 
Grapes for Eisewein are picked and pressed while solidly frozen; freezing 
concentrates the sugars. The Rheinhessen is a large wine region that lies 
between the Rheingau and the Pfalz along the western side of the Rhine River. 
Serve moderately chilled, in tall tulip-shaped glasses. 

Sautéed pears with creamy bleu cheese, such as German Cambozola, slightly 
melted on the side; or the bleu cheese by itself with a fresh pear, lemon 
custard bars, almond apple tarts, apple strrudel, crčme brűlée, pound cake, 
simple cookie--or nothing at all but the wine itself.

National Distributing Co.
$20 (375 ml)
89