Sainsbury’s, Zero Alcohol, Rose, Germany
Sainsbury’s supermarket in the UK sell a lot of wine and theres usually something for everyone, incl thise refraining from alcohol. Their Rosé zero alcohol wine is rather good. There’s no real aroma, if anything it’s a bit artificial on the nose, but the taste is good, it tastes like wine. Off dry with red berries and a hint of cream soda it’s very pleasant. Whether you call it wine is another question but I’m happy to drink it.
Aldi, Blütengarten, Riesling, 2023, Germany
Aldi have done it again with a great dry(ish) white white that is just meant to be drunk, enjoyed and not thought about. Its not going to win a gold medal but at £4.40 a bottle, yes, that cheap its amazing value. Citrus, green apple, melon, a light minerality and freshness sits in the back ground. Its one that I do buy every now and again because its just nice to have something light and easy. It’s like a fiat 500, does the job of getting you around but does shout about it.
Dr Hermann, Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese, 2007, Germany
Wow, wow, wow. This Riesling from Dr Hermann was magnificent. Off dry with complexity and length the flavours of lemon, citrus, peach. honey and a little petroleum made this a truly excellent wine. We paid about £20 a bottle on a trip to Germany. I wish I could have brought a case back. Even at £40 or £50 a bottle it’s worth trying just for that brilliant wine making.
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.