Wines to taste

Germany
German Dry Riesling of very good or outstanding quality
German Riesling Auslese
Beerenauslese or Trockenbeerenauslese
Austria
Grüner Veltliner of good quality
Grüner Veltliner of very good/outstanding quality
Hungary
Tokaji (dry/medium) of good or very good quality
Tokaji Aszú of very good or outstanding quality
Greece
Any white wine e.g. Santorini, of good or very good quality
Any red wine of very good or outstanding quality

Tasting
Wine 1: Sauska, Furmint Medve-dűlő 2015,
Tokaj

Wine facts
ABV: 14%.
Blend: Furmint (100%).
pH: 3.46
Acidity: 5.4 g/l.
Vinification: stainless steel and barrels. Lees ageing for 2 months (stainless steel batch) and 4 months (barrel
batch). 50% malolactic fermentation.
Ageing: 4 months.

Appearance
The wine is medium lemon.

Nose
Pronounced intensity aromas of citrus (lemon, orange), stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical fruit (melon,
pineapple), smoke, wet rock; secondary (cream, dough, vanilla), tertiary (almond).

Palate
The palate is dry with medium acidity, high and warming alcohol, medium(+) body, medium(+) intensity,
medium(+) finish.
Flavours of lemon, pineapple, melon, apricot, cream, fresh bread, smoke, lanolin, wet rock, almond,
vanilla.

Conclusion
Very good.

The intensity on nose and palate is balanced across primary, secondary, and tertiary, and there is
complexity within and between clusters: this is better than good. The secondary is almost as intense as
the primary, particularly with the sweet vanilla, yet still acts as a support to the primary; the tertiary is
gentle and contributes subtly to complexity: everything is harmonious.

The mouthfeel also has complexity with a balance between the acidity, which maintains freshness despite
the ripeness of primary fruit and is well integrated with the fruit, and the medium(+) body which is
enhanced by lees ageing.

An outstanding wine might have a longer finish with more complexity; here, it is quite simple with only
lanolin and bread flavours.

The alcohol is very warming and rather poorly integrated, distracting from the flavours and rather
dominating in the finish, which should not be the case for an outstanding wine.

Suitability for further ageing

Not suitable for bottle ageing. The secondary characters are almost as intense as the primary and there is
a strong risk of the secondary dominating with further age, which would cause a loss of perceived
complexity and imbalance. The poorly integrated alcohol is already distracting, so any further ageing (and
loss of intensity — primary in particular) would render an unacceptably hot wine.

Wine 2: A. J. Adam, Dhroner Hofberg Riesling

Spätlese 2016, Mosel

Wine facts
ABV: 8%

Appearance
The wine is pale lemon.

Nose
Medium(+) intensity aromas of citrus (lime, lemon, grapefruit), orchard fruit (apple, green pear), tropical
(passion fruit, pineapple), flowers (acacia, chrysanthemum, osmanthus, honeysuckle), green tea.
Palate
The palate is off-dry, high acidity, low alcohol, medium body, pronounced intensity, long finish.

Flavours of lime, lemon, grapefruit, apple, passion fruit, pineapple, acacia, chrysanthemum, osmanthus,
honeysuckle.

Conclusion
Outstanding.

The high acidity perfectly balances the small amount of residual sugar and maintains freshness in the fruit
flavours. The alcohol is perfectly integrated and its low level does not cause a lack of mouthfeel; the
pronounced intensity, alongside the acidity, are sufficient to maintain structure. There is high complexity
within and between clusters, and the purity and distinct character of fruit is remarkable. The finish is long
and with complexity, showing both floral and tropical flavours.

Suitability for further ageing

Suitable for bottle ageing.

The high complexity of primary flavours suggests there is much to be gained from tertiary development.
The high acidity and small amount of residual sugar will support this. The pronounced intensity suggests
there is no need to worry about loss of balance due to primary flavours shifting towards tertiary; there will
be a significant time frame in which these two categories are well balanced with each other.