Our experience of German wine has become increasingly satisfying and increasingly varied over the last few years, and much of the thanks goes to Rudi Wiest. Rudi has been importing German wine for decades, but recently he has really embraced a new wave of young and talented winemakers from around the country, and many of them are working in styles that are bolting-on new facets to our conception of typical German wine. Along with Rudi himself, three winemakers will be in attendance: Hansjorg Rebholz, whose array of exclusively dry wines have made him arguably the most exciting young producer in Germany (we will even be pouring his hair-raising Pinot Noir), Markus Mleinek from Dr. Heger, who will be pouring his Grosses Gewächs (Grand Cru) Pinot Blanc, and also Marcel von den Benken, who represents Schloss Schonborn, an estate that has been producing wine since 1349 (and whose Spatlese Riesling from 1988 we'll be pouring, too).
March 23rd
8:00 pm
Reception by the bocce court with Rudi and a glass of 2011 Graf von Schönborn Estate Rosé Dry
1st.
Slightly cured GA trout with spring onion, roe, chicken skin
Silvaner, Graf von Schönborn, Estate Dry, Franken, 2010
2nd.
Warm stone crab with peanut, green garlic, and english peas
Pinot Blanc, Dr. Heger, Ihringer Winklerberg Spätlese Dry, Baden, 2007
Pinot Blanc, Dr. Heger, Ihringer Winklerberg Grosses Gewächs, Baden, 2007
3rd.
VA flounder with foraged mushrooms, pork dashi, pig skin, ricotta cavatelli
Riesling, Rebholz, Estate Dry, Pfalz, 2010
Riesling, Rebholz, ‘Ganz Horn’, Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz, 2008
4th.
Crisp pork belly with warm spring veggies and fromage blanc
Riesling, Schloss Schönborn, Erbacher Marcobrunn Spätlese, Rheingau, 1988
5th.
Rabbit with ramps, farro, and miner’s lettuce
Pinot Noir, Rebholz, Spätlese Dry, Pfalz, 2007
6th.
Strawberry pavlova
March 23rd
8:00 pm
$125 per person plus tax and gratuity.
Call ESS for Reservations. 404-541-1105