The 24nd Wine Tasting (2013-06-15) - Botrytized Dessert Wines

It was an excitement to host this wine tasting. Thanks to Norbert, my friend, who brought back two wine from Hungary and Germany.

" Are dessert wines very sweet?"

Dessert wines are more than sweet wines. Balance among rich and complex aroma, sugar contents, and acidity is the beauty of dessert wines. We tasted the particular type of dessert wines, which is made from the grapes are infected by a grey fungus called Botrytis Cinerea. The infected berries are also known as Noble Rot. This gentle fungus adds unique flavor to wines. It can infect various grapes. For example, we had Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Furmint.

This wine tasting included two parts: Introduction, we served the dry wines, which were made from the same grape varieties as the wines for blind tasting; Blind tasting, My guest, tell me which one is their favorite and why.

Eiswein (Germany): Eiswein (ice wine) is made from grapes have been naturally frozen, and it's usually Riesling. It makes the berry more concentrate and higher sugar content. The classic Eiswein doesn't include the grape infected by noble rot. But, we've picked the one with noble rot for the topic.

Aszú (Hungary): Aszú is made from mainly Furmint and Harslevelu. Berries are hand picked individually and make into paste and then mix with healthy must or wine at least one day. Based on the content, wines are categorized in range of 3 puttonyos to 6 puttonyos. higher number indicates higher concentration of noble rot.

Sauternes (France): Sauternes is an appellation of Graves, where is the southen part of Bordeaux. Sauternes wines are made from Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon. Wine making process is similar to Aszú, but the grape varieties are different.

Introduction
1. Disznókó Furmint 2011, Tokaj, Hungary.
  Pale, yellow; apple; miniral

2. Leitz Riesling (Eins Zwei Dry) 2001, Rheingau, Germany.
  Lemon yellow; honey, flower, grass, citrus; crispy, high acid

3. Siblings Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2007, Margaret River, Australia.
  Light green-yellow; green pepper

Blind Tasting
1. Anselmann Riesling Eiswein 2012, Pfalz, Germany.
  Very light and almost clear color come with floral aroma.  It a lavender garden with some hint of honey. It delivers the hint of the summer of northern country. It's crispy, and acidity is low; this wine is still young. It wasn't the type of botrytized wine I expected, but it is very enjoyable. I like it.

2. Cru D'Arche Pugneau 2007, Sauternes, France.
  Golden to amber color come with jammy apricot aroma. This wine is simple, but very intense. It is a very elegant wine, but somehow is lack of complexity.

3. Disznókó Aszú 5 puttonyos 2007, Tokaj, Huagary.
  The golden bright color come with light apricot, pear, and floral aroma. This wine tastes more balanced, but need to be aged for longer time.