Tastings by Michael

October 23, 2022November 9, 2022

2020 Escherndorfer Lump Scheurebe

2020 Escherndorfer Lump Scheurebe Spätlese is an off-dry/sweet white wine, made by Horst Sauer in Franconia, Germany. The Escherndorfer Lump is a vineyard with steep slopes, which have up to 75% inclination. It is classified as Erste Lage in the VDP classification. The soil consists of shell limestone, with Southern exposure. This terroir helps producing wines of intense fruit and good minerality. The wine has around 19,5 gr residual sugar, with 7,6 gr acidity. It comes in the Bocksbeutel bottle, which is typical for Franconia. Tasted at the Gerstl Tasting in Sempach.

The wine has a straw colour, with slight greenish reflexes. In the nose, aromas of yellow fruit and citrus prevail, combined with some light mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is slightly sweet / off dry, with medium acidity and a round mouthfeel. The finish is reasonably long. All in all, the 2020 Escherndorfer Lump Scheurebe Spätlese is a good wine.

TBM 85 points.

October 23, 2022November 9, 2022

2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Schloss Lieser

2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Schloss Lieser is a slightly sweet Riesling, from one of the most famous vineyards in the Mosel area: Wehlener Sonnenuhr. It was Jodocus Prüm who created the sun dial in 1842. The sundial gives its name to a magnificent, large vineyard. Different wineries own parcels of different sizes of this appellation. Schloss Lieser is the winery producing this wine, which is run by Thomas and Ute Haag. Thomas is the son of famous winemaker Fritz Haag. They introduced spontaneous fermentation for their wines long before this became fashionable. They do not use yeast made from cultures, a practice to give the wine certain aromas. Instead, they work with the natural yeast that can be found on the grapes and in the cellar. This makes the wines express the true character of the terroir. I tasted this wine at the Gerstl Tasting in Sempach.

This Riesling has straw colour. In the nose, the first impression is a pronounced petrol note, typical for Riesling. One perceives aromas of citric fruit and mirabelle, with a flowery note. On the palate, it is slightly sweet (a bit sweeter than off-dry), with a pleasant acidity. It has a round mouthfeel and a long finish. For my taste, the petrol notes were slightly dominant and not fully integrated. But overall, a beautiful wine.

TBM 86 points.

October 18, 2022November 27, 2023

Welcome to Tastings by Michael!

Welcome to Tastings by Michael! This is my project of creating a website that will publish my various tasting notes of wines. Wines from different countries that I have tasted over the years. Before the COVID pandemic, I have regularly attended the PROWEIN fare. There, thousands of wine producer present their wines from all over the world. This type of event is a great forum to create first contacts. I participated in tasting groups, for instance in the ABS-RJ, the Association of Brazilian Sommeliers in Rio de Janeiro. There, I have learned to systematically analyse and evaluate a wine. (Check here to see how I evaluate the wines!) I also regularly attend tasting events and I frequently visit wineries in different countries, which gives allows me to get to know the wines in the different regions better. There may also be other relevant matters that will hopefully be interesting for my readers.

Having visited hundreds of wineries and tasted thousands of wines, I felt the need to have all my experience gathered in one place. And in doing so, why not share this experience with wine lovers? Some of my notes have been published on my Instagram profile or on Tastingbook. Ideally, my readers will get an idea of what to expect from a given wine because I am describing the wine as such, but also background information. I will explain the philosophy of the winery – for instance, how they are working in the vineyards, whether they apply organic or biodynamic principles. Other information, for instance about the terroir, will also be provided. So enjoy, and Welcome to Tastings by Michael.

October 17, 2022October 26, 2022

2010 Château Montrose

The 2010 Château Montrose is one of my favorite Bordeaux wines. I have tasted many vintages of this wine. 1990 probably was the best, as far as I remember. This vintage comes close! In my opinion, it should be a 1er Cru, not 2nd. But the classification was made in 1855…

Good looking normal size bottle. Colour is ruby red. On the nose it is intense and complex. Aromas of dark red fruit, blackberry, cigar-box, vanilla, cassis, chocolate, dark cherry and blackcurrant. On the palate, it is voluptuous, round, and dry, with silky tannins, medium-low acidity, with a perfectly balanced, complex and well-structured structure. The finish is endless. This wine is masterpiece. This wine is ready to drink now, but will last well at least for another 25 years. Decanting of the 2010 Château Montrose is recommended, at least 45min-1hr before tasting.

TBM 98 points.

Ch Montrose

October 9, 2022October 30, 2022

2020 Bourgogne Pinot Noir Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume

The 2020 Bourgogne Pinot Noir of Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume is a wonderful Pinot Noir with an incredible quality-price relationship. A red wine of the basic category in Burgundy, this wine offers much more than a “simple” wine.

Purple colour with slight violet reflexes. In the nose, complex aromas of red fruit – cherry, blue plum, blueberry, with lovely vanilla notes (really remembers a wonderful plum cake, quite mouth watering). On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity, tannins present but integrated, long finish. Quite a dangerous wine, you may wish to open the second bottle quickly! In Brazil, this wine is available at Primeur Vinhos of @elainelencastre and @vitorcnmoraes.

TBM 90 points.

September 19, 2022October 24, 2022

2018 Gaisböhl Riesling GC

The 2018 Gaisböhl Riesling GC of Dr Bürklin-Wolf is one of the flagships of the winery. They one the entire plot that is classified as a Grand Cru, or Grosse Lage, by the VDP. However, they only use a small part of the grapes – only the very best, selected grapes – to make this exceptional Grand Cru Riesling. The remainder is used for the Ruppertsberger Village wines.

Straw colour with slight golden reflexes, this wine boasts aromas of yellow stone fruit, with some floral hints and nice mineral notes. Very complex on the palate, this wine shows its strength. The 2018 had a slightly higher residual sugar than other vintages, but it suits the wine very well. The acidity balances whatever residual sugar can be perceived. Very long finish. This wine is available in Brazil from PRIMEUR Vinhos.

TBM 94 points.

September 19, 2022October 24, 2022

2020 Wachenheimer Böhlig Riesling PC

The 2020 Wachenheimer Böhlig Riesling PC is neighbour to some Grand Cru vineyards. Dr Bürklin-Wolf feels that it would also deserve that status, being the top of the Premier Crus they have, and from a very special terroir.

Straw color. In the nose, this wine shows yellow fruit, peach and apricot, perhaps a hint of mirabelle, paired with hints of herbs and a mineral touch. Dry on the palate, with crystal clear acidity, yet creamy and pleasant. Long finish. An excellent wine.

TBM 93 points.

September 19, 2022October 24, 2022

2020 Wachenheimer Gerümpel Riesling PC

The 2020 Wachenheimer Gerümpel Riesling PC is a wine of the Premier Cru level – VDP Erste Lage, of Dr Bürklin-Wolf. The vineyard that yields the grapes for this wine is a special terroir, with sandstone soils and some basalt.

Straw colour, this wine boasts complex aromas of yellow fruit, peach, citrus, with flintstone and petrol mineral notes. On the palate, it is fresh, almost sharp and precise, yet creamy. Not sure I follow the comparison with a Chablis that Stephan Reinhardt or Robert Parker makes. I do agree that this is a very nice, high quality Premier Cru wine.

TBM 92 points.

September 19, 2022October 24, 2022

2020 Wachenheimer Rechbächel Riesling PC

The 2020 Wachenheimer Rechbächel Riesling PC of Dr Bürklin-Wolf is a wine of the VDP Erste Lage category, or Premier Cru. Its grapes come only from the classified Rechbächel vineyard in Wachenheim, close to the seat of Dr Bürklin-Wolf. The winery owns the entire 1.6 hectars of this vineyard, so it has a monopoly on this appellation.

Straw color, this wine boasts complex aromas of yellow fruit, especially peach, with herbal and great mineral notes – flintstone. As Stephan Reinhardt said, this Riesling that is “clearly terroir-driven. Pure and crystalline on the palate, this is a linear, juicy and elegant Riesling with a well-concentrated and decent finish.” (written by him with regard to the 2019 vintage). The 2020 vintage lives up to the same standard. A great wine.

TBM 93 points.

September 19, 2022November 9, 2022

2021 Forst Riesling Village

The 2021 Forst Riesling Village of Dr. Bürklin-Wolf is made with grapes from vineyards in the Forst area that are classified as Grand Cru. Forst boasts the best vineyards in the entire Palatinate. This makes the wine more precious, and better.

Straw color with slight greenish reflexes. In the nose, complex aromas of yellow fruit, hints of apricot, some floral notes, and a mineral expression. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity. Complex, round, a truly beautiful wine, very enjoyable. Ready to drink right now, but it may be worthwhile waiting some more.

TBM 92 points.