Karl-Heinz Datum – All about sweet wines

Charming Auslese from Puenderich

2. June 202515. March 2025 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Riesling plays a very important role in German sweet wine. For me, Riesling Auslese wines from the Mosel region are definitely among the best. This time, we tasted the Riesling Auslese Pündericher Marienburg Fahrlay 2017 from the Clemens Busch winery. The Busch winery in Pünderich on the Mosel, represented by Rita and Clemens Busch and their son Johannes, cultivates around 20 hectares of vineyards. Most of these belong to the Grand Cru Marienburg, with a smaller portion belonging to the neighbouring Premier Cru Nonnengarten. Riesling is the dominant variety, accounting for 99% of the vineyard.

Sciacchetrà – famous sweet wine of the Cinque Terre

2. June 202522. February 2025 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Vineyards in the Cinque Terre © chuckkent on Pixabay

So far I have not managed to go to the Cinque Terre to experience the region’s famous, often dizzying, wine terraces, created on the steep coast with high dry stone walls. This is mainly because the 12 km long coastal strip of the Ligurian Riviera north of La Spezia is almost chronically overcrowded. The fact that the Cinque Terre is a World Heritage Site and is a national park in its entirety does not make it any easier to find a date when accommodation and restaurants and, above all, wineries are easily accessible.

Multi-layered Tokaji – Aszú 6-Puttonyos 1993, Disznókő

2. June 20257. January 2025 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Tokaji or Tokajer, once very popular with European royal families, came into the focus of western investors shortly after Hungary’s political change, who hoped to be successful with a renaissance of Tokajer. For example, the French insurance group AXA Millésimes took over the long-established, well-known Disznókő winery in 1992. Whether this had an influence on the quality of the Tokaji Aszú 6-Puttonyos 1993 tasted from the winery remains to be seen.

Stony Auslese from Goldtröpfchen

2. June 202522. December 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

The Schloss Lieser winery receives top marks from wine guides and wine critics. The wine guides Vinum, Eichelmann and Falstaff have given it 5 grapes and 5 stars respectively, making it one of the absolute top wine producers. The wines from the winery are also repeatedly awarded top marks – for example by Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson and ⁄.

Marco de Bartoli’s salty Marsala Superiore Oro Riserva

2. June 20253. November 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Among the fortified sweet wines, there are wine styles that are offered in many different types. In addition to the sweet Malaga wine, this also includes Marsala from western Sicily. There are more than thirty different types of Marsala: 4 different qualities, three colors and four categories of residual sugar.

Noans – Friulian meditation wine

2. June 202524. October 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

The Friulian DOC Colli orientale, like the DOC Collio, only came into focus in the 1970s, when both entered the wine market with large quantities of cool-fermented, fresh, fruity and aromatic white wines. This was mainly because the wines were made from internationally known varieties, especially Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. In the 1980s, international red wine varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir were increasingly planted in order to better position themselves internationally in the red wine sector.

Sauvignon Blanc BA from black earth with gravel

2. June 20257. September 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Klaus and Mecki served a 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Beerenauslese (BA) from the Robert Goldenits winery in Burgenland with a lemon sorbet garnished with aged balsamic vinegar. The winery, which I previously knew more for its red wines, is located in the extreme southeast of the Neusiedlersee wine-growing region, in Tadten.

Molitor’s 1-star Auslese from the Himmelreich

2. June 202511. August 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

The terroir of the Graacher Himmelreich can be described as excellent. Weathered, mineral-rich Devonian slate characterizes the vine sites around Graach. The heat-storing properties of the slate and the south to south-west orientation of the steep slopes enable a good ripening in late summer and into October.

Velich’s finely spicy Beerenauslese

2. June 20252. July 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

Draw well near Illmitz, Neusiedlersee © ÖWM/WSNA

The Seewinkel, originally the area east of Lake Neusiedl in the area of the towns of Podersdorf, Apetlon and Illmitz, is known worldwide for its noble sweet wines. The indication of the narrower origin “Seewinkel” for noble sweet Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve is only permitted if the grapes come from the communities of Apetlon, Illmitz and/or Podersdorf.

Pinot Gris Rangen – a characterful experience

22. May 202422. May 2024 by Karl-Heinz Datum

The most famous vineyard in Alsace is probably the Rangen de Thann Grand Cru, located in the south of Alsace. This Grand Cru is located near the town of Thann and has an average gradient of 60%. It lies at heihgts of 340 to 460 m and at its foot the River Thur provides the necessary moisture to support botrytis in autumn. Summers are warm and rainfall is low – 750 mm per year, which yet is more than … Read more ...

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