Two German Wines from The Wine Barn
I don’t drink as much German wine as I’d like. Our summer driving holidays are most likely to take us to France (where I have a better grasp of the language) than anywhere else, while back home in the UK, German wine can be something of a minority sport.
A lifetime ago, it was a completely different story. My 1971 World Wine Atlas places Germany second only to France in position and volume of coverage, focusing mainly on its noble Rieslings.
White wines, and especially Riesling, are still the main event in Germany, but its Spätburgunder (aka Pinot Noir) now rivals many a red Burgundy at the same price point for quality and reliability.
In fact, after some difficult years, German wines in general are further ahead on quality than on awareness, so they represent something of a bargain.
They say:
At The WineBarn we specialise exclusively in outstanding German wines from award-winning producers — from vibrant slate-driven Rieslings and sensational sparkling Sekt to beautifully luxurious Beerenauslese. And as Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir in the world, we also have elegant Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir), which The WineBarn were the first to import into the UK.
Our wines showcase the quality, diversity and modern appeal of Germany’s finest wine regions.
We are recognised as the best German wine importer in the UK, winning the International Wine Challenge title for the past 6 years running. We are also immensely proud to be the recipient of the 2022 Decanter title of Best German Retailer.
Our wines are beautiful and extremely elegant. That does not only apply to Riesling — the Queen of Grapes- but also the fabulous German Pinot Noir (Spaetburgunder) which we introduced into the UK and is now a much sought after and affordable alternative to Burgundy.
We supply most of the Michelin Star Restaurants in the UK as well as stylish retailers, such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
Food matching
These two wines from The Wine Barn, Riesling from Nahe and Pinot Noir from Pfalz (right on the Alsace border) are a classic dinner-party line-up. Especially if you want something less obvious than the usual White Burgundy and Red Bordeaux.
A traditional arrangement would be to match the off-dry Riesling with a blue-cheese salad starter followed by the Pinot with venison main.
However, you could also mix things things up by starting with smoked duck breast salad and the Pinot, then match the Riesling to roasted pork belly and apple sauce main.
Göttelmann 2024 Münsterer “Vom Schiefer” Riesling off-dry, Nahe (£16.10, The Wine Barn)
They say:
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A very lively Riesling that shows tropical fruit aromas. This off-dry white wine’s slight sweetness is perfectly balanced by its acidity. The Riesling grapes were grown in slate rich soil and were harvested by hand in the early October. Fermentation with spontaneous yeast took place in stainless steel tanks until the wine matured in March of the following year.
Food recommendation: Due to its sweetness, this wine pairs well with Asian food, poultry and noodles.
11.5%
14g/l RS
Stainless steel
deep gold; lemon-lime, tropical citrus, mango and hints of musk; fresh and pure with citrus, ripe yellow stone fruit and exotic passionfruit and guava; savoury, saline and mineral; very harmonious and long.
Very Good.
Drinks nicely on first pouring, opens up with aeration and will repay extensive cellaring.
Fresh enough for an aperitif or garden sipper, match with blue cheeses, roast pork with apple sauce or mackerel paté.
Becker Family Spätburgunder, 2021 (£19.56, The Wine Barn)
They say:
Grown on rare limestone soil with heavy topsoil of loam and clay. The vines are up to 43 years old. Before pressing, the grapes were macerated to extract all the flavours and aromas from the grape-skins. The juice was fermented in large oak-barrels. Afterwards left on the lees for almost 12 months after fermenting again in oak-barrels for 18 months to gain even more flavour and complexity.
13.5%
Aged in large oak barrels
deep ruby; wild berries, tobacco, spices violets and damp earth; fresh, juicy and elegant with cherry fruit, red and black berries, plum and graphite; very harmonious, sleek, well-integrated tannins, delicate florality and long, saline savouriness.
Very Good.
Drinks nicely on first pouring, opens up with aeration and can be cellared further.
Match with darker game, such as griddled venison steak, roasted duck, wild salmon filet or wild boar sausages.
Originally published at https://cambridgewineblogger.substack.com.
