Spring is Sprung: 2009 R. Müller Riesling "bunny-wine"

Well folks hope you all had a wonderful time in Tuscany, too bad that bottle was not ready for the "big-time" but every bottle can't be everything you want it to be, sometimes when you are traveling in the wine-wagon you're going to hit a few pot-holes. That's the risk of exploration, even when a wine has good points behind it, you still run the risk of getting a clunker. But hey, we must persevere as it's time, for another spin in the wine-wagon and for most folks spring has sprung and it's nearly time for the white-bob-tailed wonder to hop over to your place and lay some eggs for the kids to find.

But there will be no brightly colored Easter-eggs, or jelly beans in this review as we hop off to Germany for a review of the 2009 R. Muller Riesling which comes in the easily recognizable Octavin shaped box, with the pop-out spigot and fits ever-so-nicely and easily onto the refrigerator shelf.

I've had the opportunity to taste many of the Octavin Home Wine-Bar boxed wines and I must say, I'm pretty hoppy overall with the quality of what really amounts to a simple table wines which are great for large parties or perfect for the anytime quaff from the easy on/off spigot as this wine reclines on your   refrigerator shelf and is a good bang for the buck. The grapes for this wine were grown in the Landwein Rhine region of Germany.
The term Landwein is used to describe the German counterpart of the French vin de pays or a  "wine of the country."

Sniff, Swirly-Swirl, Slurp: In the glass, a pale hay colored core flowing to a watery rim. What the wine warms a bit in glass, the nose smells nicely of yellow fruits such as apple, apricot and peach, but the aromas really don't reach out and grab you. On the first splash-down there's a pleasantly round, softness with a subtle acidity filled with peachy-apricot flavors. The finish is simple, yet supple and struck with just a bit of slatey-minerality.

Pairing Recommendations: Here's the my pairing recommendation, especially if you like it spicy, I found this recipe for Spicy Red Curry Chicken and Rice and in my opinion it's a perfect match with the Riesling. As your palate gets a hit of spiciness, the mild sweetness and acidity clear the palate nicely preparing the way for the next bite from this delicious anytime meal.

What's the Score: Like I mentioned early this wine is not a knock your socks off kind of wine and it's really isn't suppose to be, it's a simple everyday table wine sure to give some day-to-day pleasure and perfect with a spicy meal or something to sip on poolside. It's uncomplicated but not, unsophisticated thus my score of 85 points reflects that point of view.

My Recommendation: If you are looking for a good example of a semi-sweet, German Riesling then it would be a good move to grab yourself a three litre tower of the Rudolf Müller 2009 “Rabbit” Riesling. But if a three-liter town of vino is a little more ambitious of a quaffing plan for you, the good news is that you can purchase Rudolf Müller 2009 “Rabbit” Riesling in the smaller "less-commitment" size, as you will also find this wine in the standard, lay-on the-refrigerator shelf 750ml bottle, just chill and enjoy. The low 9.5% ABV won't weigh you down either, making for a perfect lunch time partner.

Price and Where to Purchase: The better news is that both sizes are a thirst-slaking, penny-pinching deals under $25 for the tower or you could get the bottle, which sells for under $8.00. What are you waiting for?  The one piece of information you don't get from many wine publications or other wine-writers all that often is the 411 on where you can actually purchase the juice they review. But I won't leave you hanging. The tower can be found in most grocery stores, like Ralph's and Albertson's and for the bottle check out the wine-searcher page which lists several places to purchase the bottle and save some coin [tax-wise] purchasing from a out-of-state merchant.

Other Voices: This is the spot on nearly every review that I allow another reviewer to spout-off about their thoughts on the wine in the spotlight. Whether they agree with my review or not, so today is no different,  I present to you none-other than the famous Benito who had this to say about this wine. "It's a good compromise for a party, picnic, or other casual event--sweet enough to appeal to the white zin crowd, but dry enough that you can enjoy a glass or two without feeling sugar build up on your teeth." I'm pretty sure this means he liked it and would recommend it to you as well.

Well folks that is it for today, I hope you will stay tuned for next time as I have a wonderful Pinot Noir from Chile to share with you. You really don't want to miss this review, as this is some wine-tastic juice, so until next time sip long and prosper, cheers!