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 Riesling Wine: Dry or Sweet?

Do you like Riesling wine? If so, the next question would be which type? As you are aware, Riesling can be bone dry or as sweet and thick as honey.

And an even sharper question may be how you prefer your Riesling to be packaged? The scary looking, but traditional, labels with gothic type and un-pronounceable German names like Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg, or something as fun, cool, and simple as “Undone?”

Recently, a representative from P. J. Valckenberg, an exporter, sent me a case of its new vintages, a mixed back in terms of modern and traditional German labels and wine styles. Many of both the modern and traditional labels had screwcap closures, suggesting a concern for freshness and a precaution against cork taint. The winesw ere uniformly quite good, dry in the new style meant to be paired with food. Valckenberg is the oldest family owned wine merchant in Germany, being run by Wilhelm Steifensand, a seventh generation descendant. Royal dynasties and many renowned personalities of the times are Valckenberg customers.

Weingut Bassermann-Jordan Pfalz

Wine: 2008 Bassermann Jordan Estate Riesling trocken

About the Producer: The Jordan Family started Wine Growing in the 18th century Friedrich von Bassermann-Jordan was the author of the seminal work on The History of Wine growing. Very special is the estate’s museum of old wines, starting with an 1706 Forster Ungeheuer. Their winemaker Ullrich Mell is one of the most
respected in Germany

Region /Vineyards:The vines for the Bassermann-Jordan Riesling are planted on the slopes of the “Haardt” mountains, the so-called hills of the western brim of the Rhine valley. The slopes are south-east facing and contain a lot of sandstone in the soil. The vines are in the average 15 years old.

Vintage: Warm weather in spring fostered an early flowering. Summer was typical with no extremes of temperature or storm, but with more rain than in 2007, but equal to the 10-year average. Periodic rainfall delayed picking, but there were enough dry periods to harvest healthy grapes and it paid to wait for ideal ripeness. The wines of vintage 2008 are promising: rich in nuances and substance, complex, very aromatic.

Tasting Notes: Lemon in color, nose of minerals, honey soaked apricots, on the palate dry, medium acidity, with notes of ripe apricots and peaches. Pair this with seafood.

Observations: The label is somewhat classic in style with a modern twist. An illustrated woman is nude beneath a transparent dress. A very versatile wine that will please people who like their Riesling dry as well as a touch sweet.
 

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