Cabbage

This is more like it. And it's pungent.

Weingut Gysler, Silvaner "S" trocken 2009, Rheinhessen, Germany

This comes from red soils in western Rheinhessen, where Alexander Gysler practices biodynamic winegrowing. The Gyslers' descendents incidentally came from Switzerland, spent some time in Markgräflerland before settling in Rheinhessen.

Vivid straw-yellow with a greenish-gold hint. When I say pungent, it really is. Cabbage all the way, but not of the rotten or sauerkraut variety. Cabbage might not sound that appetising a characteristic in a serious wine such as this, but it's the most accurate descriptor I can provide. Medium-bodied, juicily succulent and slightly creamy on a palate showing the ubiquitous cabbage plus hints of pear. Blistering in the mouth - and I mean that in a good way. Slightly caramelly on an otherwise wonderfully sappy finish. A wine with lots of character. What I like about it most is its sheer drinkability.

A Silvaner that rocks my boat.