2002 Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese, M-S-R

[wondersofwine]

This was one of the wines we opened for Thanksgiving. 7.5% abv. Medium gold color.
Floral (orange blossom) and stone fruits on nose. Tastes a bit sweet but doesn't overwhelm the baked pork in a creamy asparagus sauce that I had with it at home the day after Thanksgiving. With the low alcohol and the fruity flavors it is easy to gulp. Still, I was looking for something a little more austere from this region and probably would have liked a Kabinett better.
According to thewinedoctor.com site, Abtsberg is the steepest vineyard of those making up the three vineyards of Maximin Grunhaus or Gutsverwaltung von Schubert-Grunhaus estate. The soil is weathered blue Devonian slate and the wines are generally the most austere and minerally of the trio of vineyards and require long aging to show their best. In past times wines from this vineyard were reserved for the abbot of Maximin Grunhaus.

[TheEngineer]

Thanks for the information on the vineyard WoW. That was interesting reading. Given the vintage, I would have expected it to be more austere as well.

[wondersofwine]

I purchased three bottles of this originally and may hold the remaining two until 2012 or later to see how they develop.