The Heritage Club - August 2020
This month we feature two wonderful wines from the Pfalz region of Germany. These wines span from traditional Germany (Riesling) to the ambitious future of German wine (Pinot Noir).
Dürkheimer Feuerberg Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken 2017
Producer: Darting
Winemaker: Kurt Darting
Region: Pfalz, Germany
Grape Varietal: Riesling
Viticulture: Grapes sourced from the Dürkheimer Fronhof vineyard which contains limestone and marl soil which provides great minerality.
Method: Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks.
Serving Suggestions: Serve chilled with pork, shellfish, and my personal favorite for dry riesling: spicy dishes.
Age: Though the general rule for Reisling is 3-5 years, the acidity in this wine leads me to believe it could age very well past that point.
Nose: Green apple, pear, citrus zest, and damp wood (botrytis).
Tasting Notes: Green apple, lemon, with rich minerality and nubby tannin.
WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WINE
I love Riesling. However, this was not always the case. Like many wine drinkers, I started off drinking only red and more specifically, big-bold reds. Once I started to drink more wine and had better access to wine (thanks Eric!), I grew more and more drawn to rich, dry, high acidity white wines. When sampling lots of wine I tend to crave a wine that cleanses and refreshes my palate and Riesling does just that in most cases.
This particular Riesling is classified as Halbtrocken, which means off-dry. Pfalz, Germany, just southwest of Frankfurt is relatively dry and sunny with a soil rich in limestone and marl. That soil allows this wine to have a tremendous depth of flavor by imparting minerality on top of the traditional tree fruit associated with Riesling. To me, the best Riesling comes from Alsace, Germany, and Austria and this wine is a great example of German Riesling while also being sustainably produced, which we love here at Just a Taste!
Weingut Meßmer Pinot Noir Rotwein Trocken 2016
Producer: Weingut Messmer
Winemaker: Herbert Messmer
Region: Pfalz, Germany
Grape Varietal: Pinot Noir
Viticulture: Fruit sourced from Messmer vineyards in Pfalz practicing organic farming with slate and loam soil.
Method: 70% of the Pinot Noir is kept in stainless steel while 30% is kept in old oak barrels for 3-4 months.
Serving Suggestions: Serve slightly below room temperature with rich red meat, tomato-based pasta dishes, or spiced poultry.
Age: 5-6 years should be a great aging time, however, this wine is great right now too.
Nose: Red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, as well as some dried mushrooms
Tasting Notes: Soft texture and rich red fruits with a smooth finish. Red fruits dominate the initial palate while the wine closes with thin notes of vanilla and oak.
In my opinion, Pinot Noir wine is the prettiest wine made in the world. The delicate texture paired with lively flavor is unlike anything else wine. It is the wine that most feels like art, which of course, wine is. German Pinot Noir, otherwise known as Spätburgunder, ripens later in the season and provides different flavor profiles than the traditional French style.
Messmer Pinot Noir is farmed organically in southwest Germany. This region of Germany is warming and providing more fruit-forward flavors for Pinot Noir, whereas in the past German Pinot was lacking according to wine critics.
The process of oak aging thirty-percent of the wine differentiates the wine from most Pinot Noirs, however, it provides a unique depth to the Messmer Pinot where classic Burgundian styles must adhere to winemaking laws.
This wine is a versatile crowd-pleaser. Summer or winter, with beef, chicken, or on its own, this wine will get the job done. The light texture and slight tannin will play the perfect compliment to any evening accompanied with wine.