Sunday, November 21, 2010

Wittmann Westhofener Riesling Trocken Rheinhessen 2009





Wine Name: Wittmann Westhofener Riesling Trocken Rheinhessen 2009
Wine Region: Rheinhessen
Alcohol: 13,5%
Tasting Setting:First with a group of friends at a tasting, and then alone at my kitchen table



Nose
One to five scale:  1- none, 2- slight perception, 3- noticeable, 4- very present, 5- extremely present

Flower: 2 out of 5.
Fruit: 3 out of 5.  Deep golden apple and very grapey
Minerality- 3 out of 5.  Distinct chaulky aromas.
Spice: 0 out of 5
Complexity: 2 out of 5.
Funk: 0 out of 5.


Texture
One to five scale:  1- none, 2- slight perception, 3- noticeable, 4- very present, 5- extremely present

Edge: 2 out of 5.
Roundness: 3 out of 5-
Body: 3 out of 5.
Silk: 3 out of 5.


Taste
One to five scale:  1- none, 2- slight perception, 3- noticeable, 4- very present, 5- extremely present

Power: 3 out of 5.
Length: 4 out of 5.  Freshness, fruit and minerality together.  Nice finish.
Personality: 2 out of 5.  The malolactic on this wine makes it a bit undistinct.  I want it racier.
Fruit: 3 out of 5-
Minerality- 4 out of 5.
Wood: 1 out of 5.
Sweetness: 2 out of 5.  
Tannins:  1 out of 5. 

Overall
One to five scale:  1- none, 2- slight perception, 3- noticeable, 4- very present, 5- extremely present

Balance: 3 out of 5.
Harmony: : 4 out of 5
Elegance: 3 out of 5- How elegant, sophisticated is the wine.
Enjoyment: 4 out of 5 How drinkable is this wine. I can rate big on the 20, but small on the enjoyment (or small on 20, but big on the enjoyment).

My vote on the wine
13 is sufficient. Anything below is insufficient. 13- 14 average. 15- 16 good. 17- 18 great. 19-20 outstanding.

On the 20 Point scale: 16


Other thoughts

I'm surprised that this wine is as soft and round as it is and while it's pleasant, it's also somewhat of a drawback.  High alcohol is noticable and the wine tends towards being a bit warm in the throat.  Nice nose thoug.  Delicate and articulate, not a blast of perfumes.