Gloria’s Birthday Riesling Auslese

Sunday was Gloria’s birthday and she asked that we head up north of Durango to the mountains and “check out” some of those places we so regularly drive by without ever stopping. Of course, that also meant a favorite wine with bread and cheese along side. One of Gloria’s favorite wines, if not her favorite, is a German Riesling Auslese. The really good ones are not cheap.

The Schmitges 2005 Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese was $72.00 for a 500 ml bottle. It was a wonderful Auslese and when paired with a good ciabatta from a local bakery, some cambozola cheese and the alpine setting, we found ourselves close to heaven, especially when sitting by ourselves in a mountan meadow above 10,000′.

The wine itself is sweet, which is a noted characteristic of any auslese, but it was balanced perfectly with enough acidity for a smooth mouth feel. Plenty of exotic fruit on the palate. This wine works well for an informal outing such as ours, an opener with soft cheeses for a get together with friends, or as a dessert wine. If you are not one to enjoy a sweet wine, then I recommend that you try a good German reisling auslese. I suspect that you will be pleasantly surprised.

Great company, great surroundings, a really nice wine on a Sunday afternoon. Happy Birthday Gloria.