One of the best things about walking into the Fine Wine Source is the ability to taste some wines to make an educated purchase.  I always try to taste some wines that are new to me, either by district, varietal or winery.  I guess that I am like most people and will always tend to go towards the familiar and the greatness of wines is to discover something new.  I have tried to maintain this concept since I was in high school.

The first wine that I will discuss is a German wine, and I think that even though the language seems similar to English, some people are intimidated by the size of some of the words and some of the wine terms.  I tried Weingut August Kesseler Rudesheimer Bischofsberg Spatlese Riesling 2007 from the Rheingau.  Let me make it easier to read the label; Weingut August Kesseler is the name of the producer.  One of the largest towns in the Rheingau is Rudesheim and the “er” just means that the wine is from Rudesheim.  In the Rudesheim district there are seven famous vineyards that are recognized as a Grosse Lage or the best vineyards that are delineated and of certain size that are known for special notice, and Bischofsberg is one of these famous vineyards.  Spatlese is one of the terms of distinction or ripeness that is part of the “Pradikat” and refers to the level of natural sugar that is found, because the grapes are harvested later and later after the initial harvest and the grape of this wine is Riesling.  I mean most people would not even think of purchasing a twelve-year-old white wine, but the higher up the Pradikat chain, the longer the life of the wines.  This wine was very delightful and some wonderful traces of terroir, that ethereal description that evokes the soil in the taste, and it may sound odd, until the first time you really encounter it, and then you will totally understand it.

The other fun white wine that I tried was from Domaine Huet L’Echansonne, but is normally just referred to as Domaine Huet; and it was Domaine Huet Clos du Bourg Moelleux Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2016 and the Wine Spectator awarded this wine 97 points.  The Domaine is famed for their Chenin Blanc and has three major vineyards and Clos du Bourg is known as producing the most structured and longest-lived wines.  The juice is both aged in Stainless Steel and small oak barrels and is not aged for long, but bottled quite quickly, but this process for them allows for the wine to live so long and to be so respected.   Vouvray Moelleux wines are sweet wines produced under the Vouvray appellation of the central Loire Valley in France.  Originally Vouvray was recognized for their still wines when they received their appellation, but today about sixty-five percent of the production is now in their sparkling wines, then their still wines and a very small percentage is Moelleux Vouvray.  My notes after tasting this wine was only one word “STUNNING” and I hardly get carried away like this.