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As if the name thing isn't hard enough, it's hard to find, too. When you look on most wine store shelves you don't see a lot of Lemberger for sale. This is strange, because it basically tastes like a Merlot that took an unexpected turn and ended up somewhere in the neighborhood of the Beaujolais.
The 2005 College Cellars of Walla Walla Lemberger was a very good QPR wine. ($12.00, Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman) It was like a Merlot in its color--dark ruby-purple. There were nice aromas of cherries, spice, and perhaps even some roses. Initially there was a bit of funkiness and a very sharp acidity, but the wine opened up and mellowed out quickly into high-toned cherry and cranberry flavors. The wine was at its best with food. It's full-flavored but not heavy--and it's a great red wine for the summer' s grilled or BBQed food.
College Cellars of Walla Walla is the not-for-profit teaching winery attached to the Center for Enology and Viticutlure at Walla Walla Community College. Proceeds from the sale of their wine go to scholarships for WWCC students. I highly recommend contributing to this good cause and getting some good wine to boot.
And try a Lemberger if you get a chance. I mean the wine, of course, not the cheese.
2 comments:
Y'know, why not?? --might make an interesting pairing!
Would love to try this bottling-- I've had Jed Steele's 'Blue Franc', it was my go-to wine for a soft red to drink in damp Puerto Rico Summers until the importer droppd it. Most impressed by mouthfeel & density, finish a little short with those soft tannins & vinification seemd to tame the acidity a bit much. Tried IBY's basic Austrian model & had surprising complexity for a fairly mass-produced wine. An Austrian friend gave me a couple of names mostly connected to Styria, as she's from Graz, but they're hard to find-- or not so much anymore?
(PS- I'm taking deep breaths in an effort to review some middling Ugni Blanc from 'down here' for WBW just before I get on the plane back up to the Northern Hemisphere, tho I finally gave up on trying to milk a stopover on my AAdvantage ticket & am diving directly into the sweltering political Summer brewing back home...)
Hi, D-J RS. I, too, like the Iby bottling, and you will find this a bit more high-toned in its fruit than the Iby, but still delicious. Good luck with the Ugni Blanc--I look forward to reading all about it!
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