Riesling fans, please help me out. The family is insisting on a Riesling fest with vegetarian chili tonight.
What I know about Riesling fits in a thimble, and the following are what’s in our cellar here in the high country (multiple bottles of each).
So if we were having a series of four of these, which ones, and which order? Assume the first two with crackers/cheese/etc, and then a couple with medium spice vegetarian chili.
Thanks in advance - otherwise it will be random.
In 2002, JJC was experimenting with artificial corks [they shipped both real and artificial that year], and there was a rumor going around that the artificial corks didn’t hold the seal very well. So if your bottles have the artificial corks, then be prepared for the possibility of premature oxidation.
Also, if you try a Donnhoff, then you will be qualified to contribute to one of the various “Donnhoffs don’t age” threads which have been floating around [such as e.g. [u]here[/u]].
First, I would rule out the starred Auslesen, as these are botrytised wines and would be weird with chili, I think, notwithstanding how versatile sweet riesling is.
I would have the Schaefer (presumably a QbA and not a Kabinett or higher) and the Dönnhoff Kabinett with the crackers as they will be less sweet and then try the Spatlesen with the chili, if you must.
The fake corks on Christoffels in 2002 were for the kabinetts.
The Christoffel Auslese* is not necessarily a botrytis wine, in fact I think it’s clean IIRC from my tastings several years ago.
2002 Donnhoffs are showing quite well. I am inclined to go with the recommended Schaefer, Donnhoff Kabinett then Donnhoff Spatlese sequence.
(and just to throw another log on that particular fire, had the 2001 Donnhoff Kirschheck Spatlese this week, and it was fabulous and still quite young…and NOT from my cellar)
Please find some extraordinarily funked cheese (Epoisses or Grayson) to go with the starred Auslese wines. Save the DRC for the chili. Those are all great wines that you selected.
02s are drinking pretty well, I would go with the two kabinetts, and the Schaefer (I assume it’s just a qba). The Brucke should be great, you could try that, or hold for a lot more improvement.
Copy all that - thanks for the help. Curious though why Riesling is the “house” wine at Lotus of Siam (spice central), and you all are somewhat resistant to Riesling with chili? Results posted tomorrow. Thanks again.
It’s a whole different set of spices. I assume the main ingredients in veggie chili are beans and tomatoes, both of which are better with reds than white.
Actually, I do a vegetarian chili that’s long on onion, garlic, zucchini, peppers, spices, etc. Use small amount of black beans for the beans, and some corn and eggplant. We shall see!
Thai cuisine manages somehow to be delicate even when downright fiery. There is room among the perceptibly layered flavours for Riesling—preferably German, not too sweet—to work its way inside them.
garden-variety Indian is not delicate, does no favours to Riesling, and beer is much better since it cleans up after the curry, rather than insinuating its flavours among those of the dish. The only wine I have had in 35 years of gourmanderie stand up to Vindaloo is an unoaked sauvignon blanc—and that was just an experiment.
Typically chili is not layered in flavour, but rather monolithic. Regardless of how hot, it doesn’t value much of anything in Riesling except the popular perception that sweeter wines do well with spicier flavours.
2002 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling- Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Three Rielslings for Chrismas Eve - started with this. A nice bit of verve. Reasonably heavy mouth feel, with a very nice finish. Well liked by all.
2002 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese- Germany, Nahe
Riesling #2. I’m not a big Riesling guy, but this was quite a wine. Gorgeous nose. Beautifully balanced, intense and rich. My experience with these is limited, but this seemed to be a very class act.
2002 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett- Germany, Nahe #3. Drunk side by side with Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese. Initially the OB simply outclassed this bottle, and it was somewhat simple. While decent, it just didn’t have much of a personality. But we left about half of each bottle for dinner, and with an hour of air time, the OL really improved.
Here’s the report. We opened and drank some of each before dinner. You all were right - worked okay with the spicy chili but wasn’t great. And overall, Rieslings don’t seem to do much for me. Anyway, its great that my kids (all in their 20’s) ask for Riesling vs. Burgundy - its cheaper!