Dagernova
Dernauer Schieferlay Spätburgunder
Most of the German Pinot Noirs you get in the UK are pretty good. This one from Dagernova is excellent. Light, dry with soft tannins and well integrated fruit flavours of cherry and red current. This a little oak and hints of earthiness poking though. Delightfully subtle and easy drinking it’s hard not to drink the bottle in one go.
Bürgerspital, Würzburger, Silvaner, Kabinett 2008, Germany
Wow, after 15 years this German white wine from Burgerspital still tastes pretty good, excellent in fact. Dry with decent acidity. It’s still quite light though but the wine has matured and that’s reflected in the flavours. Ripe citrus and lemon with hints of grapefruit that cling to the mouth with great length.
This is a great wine to drink in front of the fire and just enjoy. For the record I have no idea where we got it from nor the price.
Dr Loosen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2022, Mosel, Germany
I tried the 2016 version of this Slate Hill Riesling in 2020 and im happy to say its still great wine line. Aromas of lychee and citrus with hints of petroleum in there. The taste is refreshing with fresh citrus and lime under note with minerality poking though. The length is excellent and the underlying sweetness is beautifully integrated making this a great wine. At £10 a bottle it’s amazing value.
Play the extra and get good German wine is what’s needed in the UK and this Riesling from Von Winning shows why. A medium dry wine that has a surprising amount of acidity. There are flavours of citrus, lemon, grapefruit with apple and peach. Mineral and stone highlights with a honey background coming through.
About £15 to £20 a bottle it more than you may want to pay, but that’s what you going to pay for decent wine in Germany.
Von Winning, Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling, 2016, Pfalz, Germany
Deinhard, Grauer Burgunder, 2014, Pfalz, Germany
German wines are generally very good but not necessarily the ones in the UK, you have to hunt them out and pay that little bit more like for this Dr Deinhard Grauer Burgunder.
Made with Pinot Gris this is a growing up wine with plenty of citrus flavour and subtle mineral notes coming through.
At about £20 a bottle it’s little bit on the pricey side but then again you do have to pay extra to get good German wine in the UK.
Timo Dienhart, Spätburgunder Trocken, 2016, Mosel, Germany
Light, smooth and dry are 3 words to describe this Timo Dienhart, Spätburgunder from the Mosel.
There’s flavours of cherry, raspberry, with earthy notes and hints of pine and oak and a little coffee poking through. It went well with veggie home made pizza but its light enough to have with meaty fish or white meat.
Ernst Loosen, Pinot Noir, 2019, Germany
I do like German wine and this Pinot Noir from Ernst Loosen really shows why. It’s reasonably light got lots of redfruit which is vibrant with decent acidity and smooth tannins which makes this a very easy red wine to drink.
It’s on at £10 from Majestic Wines which makes this really quite cheap and worth buying a few bottles.
Lidl, Feinherb Klusserather, St Michael, Riesling, Model, Germany
I’ve said it before that supermarkets like Lidl sell decent wine at excellent prices and this Riesling from the Model, Germany shows it. At £5 a bottle it’s great value. A medium white wine with lots freshness, light aromas and flavours of apple, pear, lychee, melon, ripe pineapple and peach. Lots there, although quite subtle and great freshness.
It’s a great easy drinking wine on its own or with Asian food.
Germany makes great Riesling and this Riesling Spatlese from Dr Hermann is a great example. 13 years on and its wonderful, amazing, fabulous. Its good in other words.
There are aromas and flavours of honey, blossom, ripe tropical fruits and hints of spice and minerals. A rich yellow in colour and a little heavier in weight than many Rieslings this is a delicious, magical wine.
We tried to have this with a chinese meal but drank it far before the meal was ready. At £12 a bottle its amazing value too.
Dr Hermann, Urziger Wurzgarten, Riesling, Spatlese, 2007, Germany
Dr Losen Is one Germany’s big but excellent producers, especially of Riesling. Even the off blue colour of the bottle and crisp label say class. I like to taste wine blind so you are not influenced by the label but in this case, who cares. Aromas of lychee and citrus with hints of petroleum. The taste is refreshing with fresh mineral notes coming through and lime popping out. The length is excellent and the underlying sweetness is beautifully integrated.
Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany