486043 Sun Feb 03 18:28:58 -0800 2008 8 34 Wine 0 3362163 OK, so "a rose" (not rosé, but a rose) "by any other name would still smell as sweet." But is this true of Pinot Noir? 2005 Pinot noir Qualitätswein dry Rheingau Gutsabfüllung Domänenweingut Schloss Schönborn 65347 Hattenheim / Deutschland Product of Germany A.P. Nr: 31052 058 06 750ml Alc. 13.0% by vol. Estate Bottled German Red Wine Actually, in fact, this looks more like an older rosé rather than a red wine, extremely pale, translucent color, shading to onion skin, very bright and brilliant to the eye; the bouquet is surprisingly Burgundian in character, rose petals, delicate cherry notes, hints of sous bois and spice -- clearly this is not a Vosne-Romanée or Gevrey-Chambertin; it's not even a Savigny-les-Beaune or Pommard; but it is reminiscent of a Givry or perhaps something like a Rully rouge or Mercurey -- very fragrant and enticing; on the palate, the wine is silky smooth and surprisingly flavorful, well balanced with bright acidity, soft fruit and supple flavors; the finish is long and flavorful. Worked surprisingly well with a couple of rib-eye steaks, and -- well, it's the only German Spätburgunder I've ever tried that I would buy a second time. Cheers, Jason Sun Feb 03 18:28:58 -0800 2008 28122 zin1953 1 3362358 I'm very unfamiliar with both the German language and German wines. What terms should I put into Google to find this one? Or should I search in one of the merchants like K&L? Sun Feb 03 20:12:46 -0800 2008 3362163 68466 vickib 2 3362491 2005 Schloss Schönborn Pinot Noir -- I picked it up at Vintage Berkeley. Sun Feb 03 21:43:48 -0800 2008 3362358 28122 zin1953 1 3370726 I've been trying some spatburgunders from a local importer, Truly Fine Wines, and have not been disappointed. My thoughts on trying to compare to Burgundy are similar to yours. Wed Feb 06 12:04:36 -0800 2008 3362163 31795 ibstatguy 1 3394876 a German pinot at 13 percent alcohol....wonder how they did that ... Wed Feb 13 15:21:26 -0800 2008 3362163 80122 pinotho 2 3395350 Global warming? C&H??? Wed Feb 13 17:30:24 -0800 2008 3394876 28122 zin1953 1 3396801 Spatburgunders make great breakfast wine (not that I recommend pouring on corn flakes). But with a sturdy german breafast - cold meats, wurst etc they go really well. They were served at a B&B I stayed at along the Rhein (all-inclusive with the breakfast) - what a way to start the day. By far the best (in terms of complexity) are the Rheingau (I still have a few halves of a 71 Eiswein Spatburgunder) but they are all relatively pale. The Baden versions are more colored but definitely rustic - haven't bothered to go back for more of those. Thu Feb 14 08:05:53 -0800 2008 3362163 11134 estufarian 2 3397488 >>> By far the best (in terms of complexity) are the Rheingau (I still have a few halves of a 71 Eiswein Spatburgunder) <<< Traditionally, the best Pinot Noir/Spätburgunder wines HAVE indeed come from the Rheingau, but normally NOT from Schloss Schönborn, and more to the point, not from the area around Hattenheim and Erbach. Typically, Assmannhausen has been the Rheingau's principal Pinot producing province. This specific wine, as I said, was a makred improvement over any I've had previously. Out of curiousity, whose 1971 Eiswein Spätburgunder is it? And is it an Eiswein Auslese? Eiswein Spätlese? or . . . ? TIA, Jason Thu Feb 14 10:40:08 -0800 2008 3396801 28122 zin1953 3 3398242 1971 Assmannshauser Hollenberg Spätburgunder Auslese Eiswein, made by Staatsweingut (probably the only producer with the funds to make such a bizarre item back then). Other than colour - more onionskin than anything else - still quite palatable - but it's no riesling! Thu Feb 14 13:40:13 -0800 2008 3397488 11134 estufarian