German WInes from Boppard, Middle Rhine

In mid-August, I was able to get away for a few days to Boppard in Germany, to meet some old friends. Boppard is at the centre of the Mittel-Rhein wine region so I took the opportunity to buy some wine while I was there. There is a shop called Vineum Boppard which sells and ships wine to all across the EU, and ships 18 bottles for 15Euro, so about 80p/bottle.

The shop also acts as a kind of a wine bar; you can sit outside on the square and taste 3 wines for 5 Euros, from a very large range. This also means that they have plenty of wine open to taste when you are buying too.

Their website is www.vineum.com

One of the big problems with German wine is that it is very difficult to get the good stuff in the UK; the bad old days of Blue Nun, Liebfraumilch and Black Tower all but destroyed the UK German wine sales. In Germany, in Boppard, however, there was a massive range of great local wines all at less than 10Euro a bottle, which you just cannot get in the UK.

So, I bought 18 bottles for shipping, about 8 different wines, all tried in the shop. Mostly white, a rose, and a red.

So, once it turned up – about 10 days later, I took the opportunity to have some fellow wine society members round to check out 4 of them.

Wine 1

Weingut August Perl. Bopparder Hamm, Feuerlay, Hochgewachs. Riesling 2019. Trocken. 12.5%

**8.01 Euro

A classic light, Rhine Riesling. An easy drinking Riesling, dominated by citrus fruits, 8/10

 

Wine 2

Weingut Heilig Grab. Bopparder Hamm, , Hochgewachs. Riesling 2018. Trocken 11.5%

**7.65 Euro

Some spritz in this one, a little more age than Wine 1, which actually takes the fine edge off it. Otherwise very similar.7/10

Wine 3

Weingut Lorenz. Bopparder Hamm, Riesling Spatlese 2017. Feinherb 11.0%

**8.91 Euro

This one is a little older, nearly 3 years in the bottle. Feiherb is much the same as Halb-Trocken, but without the precise legal definition for acidity and residual sugar. Has a maturity to it. It felt a bit flat directly after the 2 Trockens, but returning to it later, was much more rounded and just nicer. 8/10

 

Wine 4

Weingut Konigshof. Bopparder Hamm Feuerlay, Riesling Auslese 2016. 9.0%

**15.21

The best of the 4. This is a classic sweet Riesling, with a great balance of sweetness, fruit, acidity. Almost perfect.9/10

** All prices were after 10% discount, without shipping. We got 10% off for 18 bottles, then the shipping was 15 Euro, so it all balanced out pretty much

 

The Rule of 6

 Sadly, while we were hopeful of being able to start something (up to 30 people in a large hall perhaps), the new "Rule of 6" has completely put a wet blanket over everything we might have been able to do. 

So back to a waiting game.

Lockdown WIne #9 - Grauer Burgunder from Lidl

This weeks lockdown wine comes from Robert W in the wine society

Grauer Burgunder from Lidl bin end £3.99, was originally £8. Also known as Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Grown primarily in Baden and the Pfalz.

On the nose stone fruit light apricot and apple, also on the palate. To the eye a goldy pink colour. A semi dry refreshing wine at 13.5%. Accompanied our roast belly pork Jersey Royals, carrots and roast parsnips.

Cut through the fat of the belly pork and cleansed the palate nicely.

Even got thumbs up from Christine who prefers red wines.

 

 

Lockdown Wine #8 - Falanghina (Italy)

Another wine from the Wine Society - a rather less obscure grape variety this time

Wine: The Wine Society Falanghina

Country: Italy, Region: Campania

Grape: Falangina

The Wine Society : £8.90

Value for Money – 9/10

Quality/Flavour – 9/10

An excellent middle of the road dry white. Crisp, dry, well made, but also full bodied.

Would I buy it again – Yes

From the Wine Society blurb

Grapes: 100% Falangina

13.5% Alcohol

Falanghina is one of Italy's many native grape varieties that we feel shouldn't be left under the radar! With tangy citrus and seductive apricot flavours, this is a lovely versatile wine from Campania to add to your selection.

From Wikipedia

Falanghina, also called Falanghina Greco, is a variety of wine grape, Vitis vinifera, used for white wines. It is an ancient grape variety which may have provided a basis for the classical Falernian wine, and has considerable character.[1] It is cultivated on the coast of Campania north of Naples,[1] and frequently consumed in southern Italy along with seafood.[2] The name for the wine appears to derive from the Latin falangae, or stakes for supporting the grapes in a vineyard 

 

Lockdown Wine #7 - Bostovan Dor Feteasca Neagra And Pinot Noir

Another wine from my Wine Century stocks (which are nearly running out!) - another VERY obscure grape variety

Wine: Bostovan Dor Feteasca Neagra And Pinot Noir

Country: Moldova

Grape: Feteasca Neagra And Pinot Noir

From: Turton Wines: £10.50

Value for Money – 8/10

Quality/Flavour – 8/10

A thoroughly decent full bodied and smooth red. Quite reminiscent of a Merlot. Soft tannins.

Would I buy it again – Yes

From the Turton Wines blurb

Grapes: 51% Feteasca Neagra 49% Pinot Noir.13% Alcohol 

A Moldovan red wine matured for up to 12 months in oak barriques for intense aromas of dark fruit and forest floor. The rich palate shows a fine flavour of wild berries, tones of blackcurrant and black cherries with herbal nuances and subtle cranberries, candied fruits and vanilla.

From Wikipedia

Fetească Neagră (Romanian pronunciation: [feˈte̯askə ˈne̯aɡrə]); English: Black Maiden) is an old pre-phylloxeric variety of Romanian - Moldovan grape,[1] cultivated mainly in several areas in the Romanian regions of Moldavia, Muntenia, Oltenia, Banat, Northern Dobruja[2] and also in the Republic of Moldova.

These grapes produce dry, demi-dry or sweet wines, with an alcohol content of 12-14%,[3] a deep red colour with ruby shades, and a black currant flavour, which becomes richer and smoother with aging. 

Lockdown WIne #6 - Badacsonyi Kéknyelű, Sabar 2018. Grape - Keknyelu

A very rare grape variety from Hungary; only 50 Hectares.

From the Wine Society: A true delicacy made from kéknyelu, an almost mythical Hungarian white grape variety grown in a mere 50 hectares of vineyard in the Badacsony region, next to the stunningly beautiful Lake Balaton. The wine is crisp, medium-bodied and with delicious pear, stone fruit and red apple freshness.

Wine: Badacsonyi Kéknyelű, Sabar 2018

Country:Hungary

Grape: Keknyelu

From the Wine Society, £12.50

Value for Money – 5/10

Quality/Flavour – 7/10

For me, it was just another half decent well made white, but not outstanding and quite pricey.  So, interesting, but not worth crossing the road for.

Lockdown WIne #5 - Prince Stirbey 2018, Romania. Grape: Tamaoioasa Romaneasca

Another wine from my Wine Century collection - a VERY obscure grape variety

Wine: Prince Stirbey 2018.

Country: Romania

Grape: Tamaoioasa Romaneasca (Muscat family).

From the Wine Society, £11.50

Value for Money – 6/10

Quality/Flavour – 8/10

A very pleasant white wine, but quite pricey for what it is. The grape variety is a relative of the Muscat, and you can taste that in the wine. It is something more than the everyday well made, clean fresh whites that we are all used to.

From the Wine Society listing: - The indigenous Romanian tamâioasa româneasca grape produces an enchanting dry white with delicate white fruit, citrus and white-flower aromas and rounded flavour.