Skip to main content

St. Ludwin Bernkatseler Kurfürstlay Riesling Kabinett 2014

Image result for St. Ludwin Bernkatseler Kurfürstlay Riesling Kabinett 2014
[note--vintage on label is incorrect.] Lightly golden hue with aromas of vanilla, sweet fruity oil (classic Riesling BTW) perfumey, tropical fruit compote with cremé bruleé and a large dose of honey.

Palate--A veritable dive into juiced lemons, limes, guava, and clover honey on a somewhat watery feeling texture.  There is an acid weakness which detracts from an otherwise glorious, fruit filled melange.

Now--wine geek stuff: How to read a German Wine Label--It is really quite informative and tells you a great deal about the wine.  St. Ludwin is the name of the winery or estate where he wine was made. Bernkastle is the region (much like our AVA's in this country) where the grapes were grown located on the Mosel River.  It is perhaps the most highly recognized and best region of German wine. Kurfürstlay is the actual vineyard from which the grapes were harvested.
The name of the grape is Riesling and Kabinett is the "pradikat" or "title" of the particular wine which relates to both a quality level and level of sweetness.
There are five titles in German wines which range in both price, and sweetness and ability to age.
These titles from lowest to highest are:
Kabinett
Auslese
Spatlese
beerenauslese
trochenbeerenauslese

As you move up the "title" of the wines they go from "off dry" to very sweet and very expensive!
There are non-title wines called QBA wines which stand for "Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete”  These are very inexpensive wines but not to be ignored!

At any rate, I paid $18 which is a bit over-priced but it is a nice example of the region, the title and the grape.  Look for these and do not confuse super fruity with being "sweet." A lo of people who think they hate sweet wines will tell me this is way too sweet for them when in fact the wine is bone dry meaning there is no residual sugar. But a well made wine that is supper fruit laden will taste "sweet" to the uninitiated.  Raise a glass of one of the most under appreciated wine in the world!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We've moved!

After a few year hiatus from my "real" wine blog, you can now find my reviews at the winecask.blogspot.com  I started this blog many years ago and was ranked the #8 wine blog on the world wide web.  I am a regular guy with a very limited wallet so I drink what you drink with rare exceptions. So scoot on over there, follow me if you want short, no non sense wine info.  Raise a glass!

M. Chevallier Brut (Cava)

Straw hue with aromas of gentle vanilla, lime, more vanilla, and citrus. Palate-- Fresh, clean, teensy pin prick bubbles, creamy texture, fresh clean finish that lingers a bit. If you want a great summer bubbly with no animals on the label, tastes like real wine than a manufactured wine beverage, this is a great summer choice. It's a Trader Joe's regular and runs $10.  Raise a glass, sit on your deck or pool side and enjoy!

Pure Bred (Old Vine) Zinfandel Lodi 2017

Very light hue with a unique aroma (slight) at the side rim of dill pickle juice which is intriguing. Zin aromas of wild berries, not over powering but pleasant, with a touch of rustic zinfulness.  (OK that was cheesy!) Palate--There's a watery first impression but is quickly engulfed in big Zin fruitiness which is quickly fleeting leaving a pleasant lingering gentle berry goodness with a slightly "green" end. OK, I am the Zin maestro having had more zins in my life than possibly all other varietals combined?  Well, if not, I am getting there.  Zin is my grape. And here is the get a grip factor; this sells for $6.50 from Trader Joes, nuff said. Face it, I can't drink Turley, or Rosenblum single vineyard zins everyday (or even every week) so if you're having the gang over and want a light hearted red for those who insist they don't like red wine, give them I bit of this and see what happens.  At this price, I'll raise a glass.  Thanks MB :)