Six people showed for the start (joined later by guys wearing identical exceptional tshirts) of the open wine tasting night in Fallon & Byrne last night and theme was Riesling.

Very much an old versus new world show-down, with the following wines opened:

  1. Meyer-Fonné 2004 from Alsace (well balanced)
  2. Dr. Von Basserman-Jordan “trocken” 2006, Pfalz, Germany (floral, blue cheese, chicken chow mein, pink grapefruit, more balanced and less one-dimensional than the new world ones)
  3. Spy Valley 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand (very clean, flinty, petrols, minerals)
  4. Grosset Polish Hill 2006, Clare Valley, South Australia (petrol, flinty, minerally, slight fizz, zingy, long lasting)
  5. Leeuwin Estate Art Series 2005, Margaret River, Western Australia (rubber band, petrol, softer & smoother than the Polish Hill)

There was a marked difference between old and new world, with the Australian and New Zealand Rieslings having distinctive characteristics of petrol, rubber band, high acidity, almost a little tingly fizz, flintiness or minerality in varying degrees.

On the other hand, the old world seemed to perform better for the most part, despite the baggage that German Riesling has taken with it since the eighties.

What did I think of the Rieslings?

I think the German pipped the Alsatian to the post. However, I could also appreciate the Australian wines, but they were very very different.

Other wine topics up for discussion

In addition to the Rieslings, there was plenty of other wine talk.

  • The true home of Viognier (Condrieu)
  • Old versus new world
  • Prosecco versus Champagne and other sparkling wines from France (Crémant)
  • Best supermarket wines
  • Best “splurge” wines
  • Aussie Rhône-style blends

Next open wine tasting: June 11th, Enowine IFSC, 7-9pm