Ferdinand Pieroth
Podersdorfer Beerenauslese White Blend
Pfalz, Germany
From back in the days when Pieroth used to buy up and bottle some amazing lots of wine from all over Germany and Eastern Europe (now they sing to a very different tune). This is simply one of the greatest sweet wines I've ever had. A blend of Traminer, Bouvier, and Neuburger grown under the influence of (the botrytis-paradise of) the Neusiedler See, in Burgendland, near the Hungarian border.
Despite an almost entirely disintegrated capsule this was in great shape. The wine is an amazingly virile gold, with streaks of shimmering emerald running through it by candlelight. It has gloriously tactile legs (think Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct) and an amazing purity of fruit. Lychee, with layers of Cape gooseberries, dragonfruit, mandarins, and hits of kumquats and, weirdly, fresh caper-berries. All of this bound together by an almost ebullient sweetness and box-knife acidity. This was bottle 3/5 from my cellar, all drunk over the last 3 months. I just can't help myself - I'll have to bury last two in the garden so they're not within arms' length I my drinking hand.
From back in the days when Pieroth used to buy up and bottle some amazing lots of wine from all over Germany and Eastern Europe (now they sing to a very different tune). This is simply one of the greatest sweet wines I've ever had. A blend of Traminer, Bouvier, and Neuburger grown under the influence of (the botrytis-paradise of) the Neusiedler See, in Burgendland, near the Hungarian border.
Despite an almost entirely disintegrated capsule this was in great shape. The wine is an amazingly virile gold, with streaks of shimmering emerald running through it by candlelight. It has gloriously tactile legs (think Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct) and an amazing purity of fruit. Lychee, with layers of Cape gooseberries, dragonfruit, mandarins, and hits of kumquats and, weirdly, fresh caper-berries. All of this bound together by an almost ebullient sweetness and box-knife acidity. This was bottle 3/5 from my cellar, all drunk over the last 3 months. I just can't help myself - I'll have to bury last two in the garden so they're not within arms' length I my drinking hand.
Pedersdorfer '76 - blend of Traminer, Bouvier, and Neuburger. These old birds just keep on surprising! Granted, '76 was an amazing year but this exceeds expectations, given the mixed success of the producer. A stunning bright gold bar polished with pure sunlight - it runs evenly down the glass - light stickiness matched by a visually tangible layer of acidity. A nose if honeysuckle, pale young limes, rose-hips, and kumquats; gloriously balanced acidity with sparks of fructose and tightly packed bitterness, enveloped in a cloak of freshness and youth. I've had 3-year old wines that have felt older than this 40-year young baby!
Pedersdorfer '76 - blend of Traminer, Bouvier, and Neuburger. These old birds just keep on surprising! Granted, '76 was an amazing year but this exceeds expectations, given the mixed success of the producer. A stunning bright gold bar polished with pure sunlight - it runs evenly down the glass - light stickiness matched by a visually tangible layer of acidity. A nose if honeysuckle, pale young limes, rose-hips, and kumquats; gloriously balanced acidity with sparks of fructose and tightly packed bitterness, enveloped in a cloak of freshness and youth. I've had 3-year old wines that have felt older than this 40-year young baby!
Feb 10th, 2016
Soft and elegant. Balanced. A very unusual wine. Worthy of focused attention.
Soft and elegant. Balanced. A very unusual wine. Worthy of focused attention.
Aug 19th, 2015