This Riesling comes in a 1-liter bottle. Of course I cherish the extra 33.33% of wine I get. But it is not a good sign. Not only does the liter bottle carry with it an additional glas of Riesling but also the stigma of less quality. Quantity raises suspicion and lowers my expectation. I wonder if the extra glas of Riesling compensates for the uneasiness it puts me in. In my quest for quality I am used to pay more for less. If the reverse is true I look for faults.
Nevertheless I am willing to let surprises happen.
The 2008 Dürkheimer Nonnengarten Riesling Kabinett of Weingut Darting has a pale lemon color. Oh oh. Is that bad, the paleness? Is it because the wine is cheap? Is it a defect? No, it is not. Calm down.
The aroma is distinctly citrus and has a pleasant smokiness to it. That is promising. Let's taste it: it is an off-dry Kabinett. Not sweet, just not dry. The right amount of residual sugar to balance the crisp acidity and the minerality, which is even more pronounced on the palate than on the nose. Quite a bit going on in this liter bottle. It's a liter bottle, remember. The fruit is more peach than citrus and there is also - confirming my sense of smell - a light smokiness in the flavor of this Riesling, particularly towards the end of its medium long length.
Darting's 2008 Dürkheimer Nonnengarten Kabinett is quite complex considering its moderate price tag: fruit, refreshing acidity and a good dash of minerality make this an exciting budget Riesling. Its light sweetness goes well with the spicy salsa of my Mexican burrito. Perfect to drink now, this Kabinett will certainly improve over next three or four years. I cherish the liter bottle.