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Product Name
Vintage
Price
Varietal
Country
Region
Appellation
Size
Additional Discount
Original Item
2009
$45.94
Riesling
Germany
Rheingau / Rheinh...
750ml
N/A
Better Price
2013
$36.79
Riesling
Germany
Rheingau / Rheinh...
750ml
12B / $36.05
Similar Price
2022
$47.14
Riesling
Germany
Rheingau / Rheinh...
750ml
Similar Price, Better Score
2020
$48.00
Riesling
Germany
Rheingau / Rheinh...
750ml
Better Price, Better Score
2021
$39.84
Riesling
Germany
Rheingau / Rheinh...
750ml
12B / $39.04
More Details
Winery
Franz Kunstler
Vintage: 2009
Despite less than ideal climatic conditions, featuring storms which threatened an otherwise perfect year, most parts of California had an excellent year for viticulture. Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs were picked at optimum ripeness, and Californian white wine was just about as good as it could be. Surprises and overcoming difficulties summed up much of the United States' wine industry in 2009, and many of the results from Oregon, Washington State and all over California speak for themselves, with the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon grapes having developed healthy, thick skins and thus plenty of character and distinction. Elsewhere in the New World, South Africa had a very good year in 2009, and wineries across the cape of the African continent are proclaiming it a truly great vintage.
In most of Europe, fine weather and punctual ripening periods produced some excellent wines, with many of the best coming out of France's Bordeaux and the surrounding regions. Merlot had an exceptionally good year in France, and wineries are proclaiming that the 2009 Merlot harvest was one of the best in living memory. Indeed, across most of France, ripening was relatively even, and red wine grapes such as Cabernet Franc, Syrah and others were reportedly highly characterful, with plenty of the required tannin levels with which to make high quality wines. Italy, too, had a very good 2009. Piedmont reported extremely favorable conditions throughout 2009, and their signature Nebbiolo grapes were more or less perfect when harvested, having benefited from the slight drop in temperature at the end of their ripening period. Veneto, too, had an enviable year, producing superb Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay wines in 2009.
Varietal: Riesling
Riesling grapes have been grown in and around central Europe for centuries, and over time, they became the lasting symbol of south Germany's ancient and proud wine culture. Whilst the reputation of German wines abroad has in the past been mixed, the Germans themselves take an enormous amount of pride in their wineries, and Riesling grapes have now spread around the globe, growing anywhere with the correct climate in which they can thrive. Riesling grape varietals generally require much cooler climatic conditions than many other white grapes, and they are generally considered to be a very 'terroir expressive' varietal, meaning that the features and characteristics of the terroir they are grown on comes across in the flavors and aromas in the bottle. It is this important feature which has allowed Riesling wines to be elevated into the category of 'fine' white wines, as the features of the top quality bottles are generally considered to be highly unique and offer much to interest wine enthusiasts.
Region: Rheingau / Rheinhessen
The beautiful region of Rheingau in Germany is home to many of the country's most characterful and delicious wines. With a wine history which extends back several centuries, the wineries of this region have generations of experience and expertise when it comes to dealing with their distinctive and flavorful grape varietals, and consistently produce wines which remain popular with global audiences. With Riesling making up for the majority of grapes growing in the region, Rheingau vintners make the most of the cooler climate and high levels of moisture on the valley sides to bring out the best flavors of this grape, as well as allowing it to express the finest features of the terroir. However, plenty of other Germanic and imported grape varietals flourish there, and today the region produces a relatively large range of excellent white wines which are steadily becoming more recognized internationally.
Country: Germany
Much has changed over the past few decades in regards to German wine. Long gone are the days of mass produced, sickly sweet white wines which were once the chief exports of this fascinating and ancient wine producing country, and they have been replaced with something far more sophisticated. Whilst Germany continues to produce a relatively large amount of dessert wine, the wineries of the south of the country have reverted their attention to the production of drier, more elegant wines which really make the most of the fine grape varieties which flourish there. Many of the wineries dealing primarily with the excellent Riesling grapes have produced some truly exceptional dry and semi-sweet wines over the past few years, and it seems the world has finally woken up and noticed the extremely high quality of the distinctive produce coming out of Germany today.