outstanding

Recently we reported on a somewhat unusual German wine, a Syrah from the Pfalz. As this wine got a lot of interest, I decided it was time to open a bottle of another, unusual, red wine from the same producer. After having sampled the 2003 Syrah it was time to try the flagship wine of the Knipser winery, the Cuvée X, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot - all grow in Germany, just a few miles left of the Rhine.

So we were drinking this German Syrah one night and - Wait, a German Syrah, you say? Yes, that is true - a Syrah from Germany, and a bloody marvellous one too.

Large wineries owned by immensely land-rich historic trusts are a typical feature of the franconian wine scene, especially in Würzburg. As these go back to charitable - or not so charitable - institutions founded in the late middle ages or the 16th century, they have had some time to accumulate land, assets and reputation. By running wineries alongside hospitals (that's where the "spital"-part comes from), nursing homes and real estate operations, they preserve a forgotten model of business, social services and agriculture whose usefulness must have seemd self-evident to citizens in many premodern cities. [read the full post...]

Württemberg, Swabia, home of the gleaming Mercedes Benz, the Bausparvertrag, the Kehrwoche and the Häuslebauer (untranslatable terms, because they describe specific anthropological phenomena). And wine country. Many a railroad passenger passing by the beautiful and spectacularly steep vineyards around Stuttgart may have wondered why these wines are consumed avidly by Württembergers themselves, but, too often uninspired and uninspiring, given the cold shoulder by the rest of the wine world. [read the full post...]

If you like aged Riesling, if you want a perfectly balanced, well rounded wine, if you crave the sensation of a wine that makes your palate feel smooth and peachy - go for this gem from the Mosel. Followers of the Wine Rambler will have noticed that we do tend to like the fruity Rieslings Theo Haart makes and this one is no exception. It is, in fact, the oldest Haart we have tasted for the Rambler and it demonstrates the potential of these wines. [read the full post...]

Not very strong, but aged and sophisticated in the nose; herbal notes with maybe some peach. At first, I was almost scared the wine had cork but then I realised that it just had a nicely/strangely aged mineral. Overall, not too sweet, but very well balanced, sophisticated, very soft fruit with just the right amount of acid. [read the full post...]

The first thing you notice about this wine is the bellied bottle that gives it an air of gravitas. Then comes the colour - I have never seen such a strong and intense red-brown Spätburgunder.

The cork smells of smoke and oak, but in a very sophisticated and incredibly smooth way - and the wine is even more intense: Black cherries and a hint of mineral in the nose. In the mouth lots of fruit, black berries, cherry, all in a very sophisticated way. A little chocolate and coffee mixed with morbid notes of hay and vegetable complement the taste.

Immensely enjoyable. So far the best Pinot Noir I have tasted.