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Liquid Refreshment

28

Nov

Where to Start?

Jacob Gaffney  in Red Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon , ,

Recently led a talk on German and Austrian wines. It’s a shame really; German and Austrian wines are the purest, cleanest wines on the planet, with regulatory bodies that ensure a high level of quality. But that isn’t enough. The wines also tend to be on the sweeter side, and everyone these days wants dry.

Tried to explain that ’sweetness’ is a broad term. For instance, the Kabinetts (table wine) from the Rhein are sweet sure, but fruity and floral, whereas whites from the Mosel are more on the petrol and perfume end. And both are considered sweet, but sweet in different ways.

Also, lower in alcohol. But that’s OK. We drank twice as much.

The event was also attended by a dignitary from the German Embassy. If you’re reading this Ingmar, thanks for coming – never heard anyone wax so poetically on drinking Dornfelder as a young boy on the slopes of the Swiss Alps…actually never heard anyone talk about anything remotely like that. But, thanks for the speech.

He did, it should be mentioned, object to my use of the adjective ‘petrol,’ thinking it derogatory.

TIP: Trying to slow the blizzard of the winter bulge? Try mixing one part mayo with two parts yoghurt for a creamy, low-fat sandwich spread. Wife’s tip, but will say it’s mine, cause she never bothers to read my work…and none of you will ever know (insert fiendish laughter).

Decanter magazine declared the 2005 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, the best value Cabernet…and they’re right. For around £6, the ripe fruit and easy going nature of the wine make it perfect for the price. Snatch it up; there should be plenty to go around: 8.8.

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Duncan
Duncan said: November 29th, 2006 at 11:11 pm

It was a really good introduction to Austrian and German wines. Previously I’d always thought badly of Germanic wines. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised!

Hope to see you again soon.

Jacob
Jacob said: November 30th, 2006 at 11:51 am

Wines of Germany has offered to supply more non-sweet, German wines, so you’d be a sucker to miss the next one!

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