2002 Maximin Grünhäuser Abstberg Kabinett
Believe or not, we get some sunny days here in San Francisco. Some friends of mine stopped by last Friday and I pulled a bottle of this wine to try on the dock. At first sip, we all had smiles on our faces. This is classic German Kabinett: one that you can drink bottles and bottles of, one that enlivens conversations and makes life seem a little less complicated. This refreshing wine comes from an estate with a long history. Vines were planted at Maximin Grünhäus as early as the 1st century A.D. The winery has been in the possession of the von Schubert family since 1882.

This wines smells like Abstberg to me, one of the greatest vineyards in Germany. Floral on the nose with hints of lemon on the minerally palate, though lovely on its own, a little sunshine brings out the best in this wine. I can only imagine what a little fresh goat cheese would do. By the time we finished the bottle, the wine was expressing more and we were all expressing our appreciation of the sunny day and the wine.