On this day, which happened to be the day after the lunar "Xiaohan," the temperature was only 10℃-11℃. Mr. Michael Oster had finally decided on the speech and audiovisual materials he had prepared for his first overseas promotional event, so everything else was a breeze. Since we had some time before the event, I took Michael to a local specialty congee and noodle shop for him to taste the authentic flavors. We started with an order of "Crispy Fried Fish Balls" served with oyster sauce. I wasn't sure if it was his favorite, but he enjoyed them so much that he ate four out of five balls, leaving me happily savoring the last one. He even suggested pairing them with a sparkling Riesling, which was simply delightful.

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We arrived at the venue at 7:30 PM, where Miss Jenny, the host, and some members of the O-PS Wine Club were already waiting. We quickly divided the tasks and set up all the equipment within half an hour, ensuring that every corner of the venue was adorned with information about German wines. The guests started to arrive, and the German wine tasting event began right on time.

That evening, we had the pleasure of tasting five wines produced by Petra Fadi Winery:

W88701: Mosel, Sekt (Sparkling), Riesling, 2002, 12%, Extra Trocken.

Sekt: Sparkling wine

W88001: Ellerer, Stubener Klostergarten, Gewurztraminer, 2004, QbA, 13%, Trocken
QbA: Quality wine from a specific region

W88202: Neefer Frauenberg, Riesling, 2003, Spatlese, 10%, Feinherb, * Bronze Medal
Spatlese: Late-harvested superior quality wine

W88004: Intermezzo, Rivaner, 2003, QbA, 9%
QbA: Quality wine from a specific region

W88301: Neefer Frauenberg, Riesling, 2002, Auslese, 8%, * Bronze Medal
Auslese: Bunch-selected superior quality wine

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We briefly introduced ourselves and started with the first wine of the evening, a "Sekt (Sparkling)" made from "Riesling" grapes grown exclusively in the "Mosel" region's steep vineyards. The significance of the first three elements, "Mosel," "Riesling," and "Sekt (Sparkling)," being present simultaneously is highly representative and important. (You can refer to http://www.yuikee.com/wines/German/Mosel/about.html for more information.)

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This sparkling wine is labeled as "Extra Trocken," which means it is exceptionally dry. However, it still contains 12-20 grams of sugar per liter. Therefore, it is still relatively easy to drink for local friends. If it weren't for Riesling grapes, the winery wouldn't have used such precious farmland to grow and produce this wine.

As a result, its price exceeds that of some famous French champagne or sparkling wines. These champagnes are mainly made from Chardonnay grapes and grown in flat vineyards, undergoing a secondary fermentation process. The quality of the wine certainly cannot be compared. (If you have any reviews for this wine W88701, please click here).

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Pairing the light cheese with fresh grapes prolongs the wine's flavor in the mouth. Later, we also moved on to W88001 Gewuerztraminer. At first, some people were curious why the wine in the glass seemed to have no aroma. But when the glass was swirled, the phenomenon of "legs" became evident, and the wine tears slowly flowed back to the bottom of the glass. Want to know why? You can email me and ask.

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But when Michael and I poured everyone a half glass, after a while, people began to feel the continuously emanating special aroma and taste hidden in the glass of wine. Some said it smelled like honey, roses, or lychee. At the same time, this fragrance was irresistible, even if there was a lot of wine left in the glass, it could linger for days without fading. Personally, I felt that its aroma was very similar to a local type of refreshing tea. Would you like to know what it is? You can email me and ask.

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I like to describe the wine from these grapes as a "face-off," where the exterior is fragrant, but the interior is spicy, giving you a completely different feeling. Several guests bought several bottles of this wine to take home and share after the event. Miss Helen, please remember to email me and let me know! (If you have any reviews for this wine W88001, please click here).

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During the tasting event, I specifically pointed out a German phrase printed on the label, "Erzeugerabfullung," to explain to the guests. It roughly means "from one source" in the local language. It signifies that the winemaker is responsible for the entire process, including cultivation, management, harvest, and winemaking. This is not a small matter. It starts with an individual level and then goes through inspections and approvals at the regional and national levels before it can be sold.

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Michael and I adopted different presentation styles to make the event relaxed and natural. In no time, we reached the third round of wines, and the third one was W88202 Semi Sweet or Off Dry, a late harvest Spatlese from 2003. This bottle of wine is not easy to drink, as it is full-bodied with ample acidity. It's like a wild horse galloping across the grasslands, reaching every corner of the mouth. Pairing it with steak is a delight. Trust me, buy a bottle today and try it to let its acidity cleanse away the rich juice and fat residue from the steak, allowing you to savor the taste of the next bite of steak again. The wine bottle has a deep blue color with a white label and capsule, deviating from the traditional specifications of German wines, showcasing the winery's innovative and avant-garde style. (If you have any reviews for this wine W88202, please click here).

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At this moment, I would like to introduce W88004 Intermezzo to everyone as the third unique German wine of the evening. Instead of high acidity, it features a very low acidity and a taste reminiscent of nectar. I call it the "Half-Day Escape" because it blends fragrance and sweetness so well, making it perfect for savoring slowly. Just imagine, on a leisurely afternoon, indulging in some reading while enjoying this refreshing wine. It would truly be a delightful experience. If we were to switch to red wine, within a moment, the high alcohol content would make you feel drowsy. Its bottle design stands out among the various options and is worthy of being collected. (If you have any reviews or comments about this wine, W88004, please click here.)

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Among the guests, Mr. Ho is one of the senior wine connoisseurs and also the "wine specialist" within the O-PS club. He has brought some mouthwatering appetizers that might intimidate some of the ladies, but I rarely get such a chance to indulge myself, so I thoroughly enjoyed them.

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At this time, Michael is likely ready with his DVD presentation on the cultural and regional characteristics of the Mosel-SAAR-Ruwer wine region. Michael seems to be feeling a bit homesick. So, let's all savor W88301 together at this moment! Throughout the screening, we frequently hear happy laughter and gentle expressions of admiration. Everyone can feel that beautiful wines truly come from such extraordinary places. Are you interested in joining me for a future German wine tour?

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As the short film concludes, the glass of 2002 Auslese (late harvest) has also been unknowingly consumed. Let's have another round! This wine is one of the highest quality among the five wines of the evening. In comparison to the previous wines, it is slightly sweeter. (If you have any reviews or comments about this wine, W88301, please click here.) The two sweet wines, QbA W88004 and W88301, differ in sweetness. The 2002 Riesling late harvest, with 8% sweetness, should taste sweeter than the previous one. But why do not many people at tonight's gathering perceive them as very sweet?

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This evening, besides providing O-PS club members and friends with a glimpse of knowledge about German wines, it has also allowed everyone to understand their own preferences. It demonstrates that high-quality German wines are not limited to sweet wines. Furthermore, the "sweetness" in these wines is not the same as the sweetness of everyday milk tea with added white sugar. Has anyone ever tried differentiating the sweetness and sensation between a pinch of grape sugar powder and a small pinch of white sugar in their mouth? You can email me to ask about it!

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However, within the entire German wine classification, Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA), the dry grape selection, can be considered the pinnacle of excellence. As I mentioned at the wine gathering, the producers truly embrace the mindset of "no pain, no gain" when choosing to craft wines of this caliber. I am unaware of how many bottles of this level exist throughout Hong Kong, but even after calculating, W88501 company does not have many bottles available. These wines are of limited quantity and extremely rare, and their prices are also very high.

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One enthusiastic guest discovered the essence of these wines and held onto the bottle tightly, never letting it out of their hand. This bottle, W88501: Kallstadter Kobnert Ortega 2000 TbA 8% * Silver Medal, was made from 2000 Ortega grapes and received a silver medal in the same category in 2004. The color of the wine resembles a sunset, like a fiery red sun, turning into a deep orange-red when it approaches the horizon. It has a rich and sweet taste, similar to citrus honey, and its texture is thick and silky smooth, which can only be truly appreciated. To that enthusiastic friend, this wine's price increases tenfold every year. If you truly wish to own it and share it with your loved ones, please contact me promptly. If you want to know about all the varieties of German wines available in our company, feel free to visit http://www.yuikee.com/wines/ or contact me directly.

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The O-PS Wine Club is a private group that regularly organizes wine gatherings. O-PS itself is an optometry professional company; in Greek, O-PS means "eyes." What does it mean in German? You can email me to ask!

The O-PS website is www.o-pshk.com, and Miss Jenny is in charge. She guarantees that all German wine enthusiasts will receive special discounts. Remember to tell her that Horace introduced you!

 

Horace Cheung

2006.01.20