Lügle

Spring seems to be finally springing in these climes. About time too. Here on the border triangle, Baselworld started today. It's the biggest and most important fair for the watch and jewellery industry. Lots of sharply dressed businessmen and women from all corners of the globe looking very important with their iPhones, all on their way to very important meetings. You get the picture.

To celebrate the spring, but, at the same time, float gently back down to earth from all this 21st century ostentatiousness, what better than a wine that sings but is also as authentic as they come.

Weingut Ziereisen, Weißer Burgunder "Lügle" 2007, Baden
Admittedly, Ziereisen has been getting a fair bit of coverage lately in this and other wine blogs in the ether - but for good reason.

The "back" label, which isn't shown in the photo, includes the following description:

"From hand-picked Pinot Blanc grapes which were pressed in a basket press. Spontaneous fermentation in a large wooden vat, using the grapes' own yeasts. Vat-aged for 20 months and unfiltered." *

Bearing testimony to this unorthodox method of vinification, the wine's appearance is a distinctly cloudy straw-yellow. On the nose, melon and a citrussy-chalky edge (the latter being the characteristic in Ziereisen's white wines, in my mind). A touch of oak, but very well integrated. This is translated to the palate, where the mouth-feel is both slightly creamy and with a talcy, chalky tannic hint. A fresh citrus note prevents this sensation from descending into flabbiness. The finish is more than decent... Pretty much my ideal non-Riesling German wine, in fact. Great stuff.

Cost: EUR 18 - but more than worth it.

* My translation