The Reds

2017 Knipser Blauer Spätburgunder, Pfalz – £22.00 – The Great Wine Co., Somerset

Notes : Lovely slightly ‘rustic’ sour cherries nose and palate, touch of violets on the mid-palate, very gentle and subtle take on Pinot Noir, really good. Goes very well with duck !

2019 Martin Wassmer Spätburgunder Markgräflerland, Baden – £14.95 – The Wine Society

Notes : From a warmer region, shows greater extraction and colour, an aromatic nose, sour cherries and red fruits on the palate with marked acidity and minerality. Tannins not obvious, could do with another year or two.

The Whites

2021 Villa Wolf Pinot Gris, Pfalz- £15.99 – Laithwaites

Notes : Medium yellow in the glass, a touch floral and hint of lanolin on the nose. Balanced acidity with an underlying slight sweetness and ‘cooked’ citrus on the palate. Not a lot of character when first opened but developed very well after 24h open to the air. Owned by Ernie Loosen.

2021 Naegele Riesling Trocken Fass No. 98, Pfalz – £15.99 – Laithwaites

Notes : A gentle nose, no trace of ‘petrol’, dry and really lively on the palate, mandarin and mature citrus notes and feels spritzy, just a hint of sugar on the finish. Very pleasant food wine.

2021 Weingut Leitz Dragonstone Riesling, Rheingau – £14.95 – Laithwaites

Notes : A touch of ‘petrol’ on the nose, off-dry and lovely balanced citrus acidity on the palate, reminisicent of ripe grapefruit.

2020 Dr. Loosen Ŭriger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel- £15.99 – Waitrose Cellar

Notes : Gently rich on the nose.Palate full of life, sherbet and mature citrus, medium sweet with fantastic balance of acidity, grown on red slate. Superb and good value. 8% alcohol.

2018 Weingut Johannishof Johannisberger Klaus Riesling Spätlese, Rheingau – £17.00 – The Wine Society

Notes : Typical touch of petrol on the nose and a slight smokiness, sweet with good acidity, really rich on the palate and the balancing acidity creeps up on the long finish – ‘late picked’ 8.5% alacohol.

2020 Willi Haag Brauneberg Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel – £19.99 – Waitrose Cellar

Notes: Rather odd oily nose, not really ‘petrol’, not unpleasnt though.Wonderfully rich on the palate, this is a true dessert wine. Long and rich finish, well balanced, gorgeous indu ;gent wine, good value