German Rieslings: Some Less Expensive Ones
I am doing the German Wine Scholar course and while in Perth, caught up with a friend who is also doing the course. With some of her tasting friends (we were a formidable group – think WSET Level 3, DipWSET, MW) we decided to translate theory into practice. We did six flights of German wines over two nights, tasting a range of quality levels, styles, regions and grape varieties – although the majority of the wines were Riesling.
Despite appearances, my tastes are not confined to the expensive end of the market and am happy exploring wines across a range of price points. After the second tasting night, I took with me two of the Rieslings at the more value-end of the market to sample again while staying at a farm in WA’s Wheat Belt.
Schäfer-Frölich 2022 Riesling Trocken
Tasted twice over three days, this Nahe Qualitätswein opened with a light effervescence that persisted, even after a couple of days. The first impression was all crisp lemon, lime and slate with piercing acidity. By the second tasting the wine had softened, revealing notes of white peach, chalk, talc and delicate florals with a streak of minerality.
This lighter style of wine is perfectly suited to pairing with crab, trout or oysters. For its second tasting, this wine was sipped on a balcony watching the sun set over the Avon Valley. Utterly quaffable.
Rating: Okay Price: AUD 42
Dr Loosen 2023 Bernkastler Lay Riesling Kabinett
A contrasting expression altogether. This Mosel Kabinett, with only 9% abv, was also tasted twice over three days. Off-dry – bordering on medium-sweet - it offered a gorgeous mix of stone fruit and tropical charm: nectarine, fresh apricot, yellow peach, rambutan and sweet lemon. The palate was rounded yet balanced by the acidity that kept it soft but not flabby. Summer in a glass.
This wine is an ideal partner with sauteed chicken or Asian dishes or even a gentle Massaman curry.
Rating: Okay Price: AUD 36
Two very different expressions of Riesling – one linear and mineral, the other rounder and more fragrant – each offering a small window into Germany’s wine landscape. Sometimes the best way to study is simply to pour, sip and let the wine do the teaching.