Curiously Workable

The beer hall proved to be a great spot to have dinner with The Moose and Bex.  Hearty tucker, a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere, attentive hosts, and a bit of fun.  Very much like our dining companions.  There we set the world right.  Everything seemed to be in its place and it was all good in our lives.  Two bottles brought along for consumption seemed rather curious.  They didn’t seem to want to add up, but as we sipped on each glass, they came together well, and eventually proved to be very workable, and by that I mean drinkable.  It’s curious how evenings end up like that!

The white was a 2010 Falkenstein Sudtirol Riesling.  The label said 14.0% alc.  Yikes!  No way that would work.  And indeed it was a fulsome wine on palate.  It had the saving grace of minerality and varietal character, so that there was line and length and a refreshing mouthfeel.  At no point did the alcohol appear intrusive.  As the evening progressed, the bottle lowered in level more quickly.  Italian Riesling.  High alcohol. Yes.

The red appeared as if to could work.  A 2010 Coriole McLaren Vale Sangiovese.  These Aossies can make the Italian varieties work, and in a slightly different way, as hearty red wines first, rather than as expressions of the variety.  But on first sips, it was out of sorts.  It didn’t deliver on any account, being mixed up, unsettle and in no-man’s land.  We thought this would be a disappointment for sure.  But as things tend to, with air time, that bitter dark cherry, leather and combination of dried herb and savoury fruits began to show.  Nice grainy grip and a little sourness from the acidity.  Chianti it wasn’t, but Sangiovese it was.  Curious behaviour, but it came through too.