Score: 91/100 Points
André Macionga, a German sommelier, named 2013 «sommelier of the year» F.A.Z. and 2017 «host of the year» in the Gault & Millau guide has always had a passion for diving into the world of flavors.
With selected winegrowers, André makes and sells wine he likes to drink and recommend.
The winery Weingut Horst Sauer, in the Franconian town of Escherndorf and one of the most awarded in Germany (2017 Gault Millau ‘winegrower of the year’) created this 4th edition of the ‘Est Ist Wie Es Ist’ wine with this 2015 vintage, as a part of the André Macionga Cuvée Collection.
The Es Ist Wie Es Ist 2014 Cuvée is a special proprietary blend of various grape varieties such as Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Scheurebe, Müller Thurgau, Riesling, and Sylvaner.
Overall Tasting Impression
A surprising dry white for sure, full of ripe and tropical fruitiness in a delicately oaky and well-controlled oxidative style only Botrytis and sweet wines normally offer.
Crisp and mineral, layered with caramel, vanilla and sweet spices complexity, it remains elegant and intriguing, interesting to taste at every second of the experience, helped in its relative finesse of expression by an unarguably well-designed balance.
Full Tasting Notes
This German white comes in a very intense and surprising amber orange color, looking like a Botrytis wine like Sauternes, or a light aged Sherry like a Palo Cortado.
The nose also suggests a sweet dessert white wine, with an aromatic profile packed full of tropical fruit, ripe mango and dried pineapple, as well as dried fruit characters like sultanas and fig.
Add some delicate sweet spices, ginger and nutmeg I particular, and you’re I for an atypical and pleasing smelling experience. Tempting per se, and dramatically intriguing! Making you just want to find out what a wine with such a unique profile will taste like.
Well, it tastes much drier than expected. This is in fact what you’d qualify as a dry white, although there is a hint of residual sugars, making it edge on the off-dry style. But the solid crisp acidity makes it taste zesty and feeling dry overall.
Just like the nose suggested, it’s bursting with tropical flavors, gingery litchi, kiwi fruit and pineapple, but also ripe apricot and Muscat grapes. All the fruit characters are gorgeously opulent and ripe, yet remaining on the fresh and lively side of things thanks to hints of vibrant lemon tones and the consistent acidity that follows through and sustain the freshening feel all along the tasting experience.
The finish follows suit with a delicate yet complex aftertaste that complements the fruity generosity with an uplifting sweet spiciness, touches of honey and bee wax, cinnamon and golden syrup.
Tasting Notes for the Next Vintage of this Wine
Find the tasting notes of this wine in the next vintage, André Macionga’s Es Ist Wie Es Ist 2015 Cuvée
Horst Sauer & André Macionga Es Ist Wie Es Ist 2015 Cuvée, Franken, Germany
Enjoy 🙂
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