2008 Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr Riesling (Alsace, France)
During the very first shift of my current day job, I mentioned that I was a certified sommelier with several years’ experience in the wine industry. One of my co-workers was tickled pink by this, as he had just recently developed an interest in wine; I became the office’s resident sommelier.
He now consults with me on his Opimian purchases, and from time-to-time he brings me some rejects bottles that aren’t to his taste. (Inevitably they are Old World and/or stinky and/or just weird. He knows what he likes, and it ain’t that.)
The latest of these castaways is a wee pleasant 2008 Riesling from a producer in Alsace, Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr. It’s a lunch wine: light and fresh and meant to be had alongside salads and sandwiches and sunny patios. (Yes, the fact that this scenario is still four months away has not escaped my attention. Indulge me. Please.)
On the nose: fresh lemon, fresh Bartlett pear, crisp green apple, maybe a suggestion of honey (or is that ripe white peach?), and just a teeny tiny little smidgeon of that classic petrol/gasoline/vinyl beach ball Riesling aroma. (Like really teeny tiny. Almost imperceptible. Ok, maybe I imagined it.)
For the visually inclined, this bottle comes with pictures on the back. I'm not sure whether I find this helpful or condescending.
Light body with zesty lemon acidity and no residual sugar to speak of. The only thing out of place was a touch of bitterness on the finish, kind of like biting into the white pith of an orange or a grapefruit. Still, overall it’s quite pleasant, albeit simple. Lunch wine.
Would you believe I’ve been there? Not just Hunawihr, but their local wine co-op.
One of the loveliest thing about Alsace that gets lost in translation [ie, import] is that loads of these wines are 3-5€ a bottle. It’s cheap, accessible, and good. I envy their wine culture, as it aggravates me that wine here is so pricy and exclusive. If there was a ‘make wine peasant food again’ campaign, I could get behind it.
Kevin, knowing how many times you’ve visited France on wine-related trips, I absolutely believe you’ve been to the Hunawihr co-op.
And I am so, so with you on the “wine = peasant food” movement. I’m constantly telling people not to put wine on the pedestal that it seems to reside upon in North America. It’s just rotted grape juice. Problem is, we just don’t have the local wine production/culture to support that, so it’s gonna take a lot of time.
Agreed. Hence my interest in apple wines. Fermented juice can be done here too!!!