|
I've pasted the original news item I cobbled together on these wines
below: "Lingenfelder tours Oddbins stores in birdy Smart car."
Rainer Lingenfelder, like other switched-on German growers, has 'simplified
his offer' (to use the marketing speak) and injected a bit of fun into
this new range. Attractive packaging with groovy matching screwcaps, grape
variety and eco-leaning message come first, rather than complicated
vineyard names and (so-called) quality levels. However, priced at
£5.99-£6.99, most of the wines represent good value and, according to
Lingenfelder, are made from selected grapes of Kabinett to Auslese quality
in traditional terminology. I assume he's also releasing them in the US.
"Building on the success of his original Bird Label Riesling, Rainer
Lingenfelder has released a whole 'vineyard creatures' series of
funky German wines: Fish-label Mosel Riesling, Hare-label
Gewürztraminer, Bee-label Morio Muskat, Owl-label Pinot Grigio,
Fox-label Dornfelder red and the Bird-label Riesling, all priced
between £5.99-£6.99. To promote the wines, Lingenfelder aims to
visit 240 Oddbins branches in the UK within the next nine months. "Competition is fierce for shelf space in the stores and, even once
one has secured listings, there's no guarantee the bottle will be
picked up," he commented. "While this is true for all wines, it's
particularly true for German wine. Short of funds to create a pull
for consumers, I'm targeting the interface between consumer and
shelf: the shop staff."
Good thinking Rainer; pity others aren't as enthusiastic and game-on as you.
Check out his website for more info:
Lingenfelder.com, and on German
wines in general:
Winesofgermany.co.uk.
Posted
17/10/04.
2003 Bee Label Morio
Muskat, Pfalz (9%) - Fresh delicate honeysuckle and grape aromas,
appealing fruit on an elegant palate, towards the sweeter side but shows
gentle acidity to balance on the finish. Keep it well chilled.
82+
2002 Bird Label Riesling, Pfalz - Classic flinty mineral Riesling
characters with hints of oily development and vegetal limey notes, riper
rounder mouth-feel set against tighter acid structure and intensity leaving
an almost dry finish. Try with scallops and/or asparagus. 87+
2003 Fish Label Mosel Riesling (9.5%) - Flowers and honey notes with zesty
yet ripe citrus underneath, nice elegant fruit with mineral backbone, a
touch of fresh acidity balances out the medium style well; a little sulphury to start but that goes quite quickly. Good with curried vegetable
couscous. 87
2002 Fox Label Dornfelder, Pfalz (12%) - Attractive Pinot Noir-esque style
showing perfumed cherry, damson and blueberry fruit; quite soft easy
palate with fresh acidity and a touch of tannin on the finish. Good with
pork sausages. 85+
2003 Hare Label Gewürztraminer, Pfalz (14%) - Perfumed rose water, lychee
and pineapple nose roll onto a quite weighty palate offering spicy
aromatic juicy fruit, just a touch of sweetness with underlying fresh
acidity. Try with curried carrot & sausage couscous.
87+
2003 Owl Label Pinot Grigio, Pfalz (13%) - Big juicy personality showing
plenty of aromatic honeyed fruit, quite weighty mouthful with off dry
finish; not exactly elegant but offers condensed PG character and
quaffable style. Good pizza white. 85+
And previously on winewriting.com:
1998 Bird Label Riesling, Pfalz - New wave drier Riesling...
but not so dry with just a little
sweetness, plenty of zingy floral and peachy fruit too. July 1999
Home
magazine wine of the month. £4.99 Oddbins. 84-86 |
|
|
