Dr. Heyden: Then and Now

1992 Oppenheimer Sackträger Riesling Eiswein
(Dr. Heyden)
Sale Price $64.99 per 375ml
Last March Frank Heyden was in the States for a tour and tasting with some other German producers. After his usual stellar lineup of Silvaner, Pinot Noir, and various Rieslings he poured us this Eiswein. At first we didn’t think that it was available for sale, but there actually were a few cases back at the winery. Its recent arrival prompted us to e-mail Frank for details. The wine was made by his uncle. On a late November evening in 1992 the temperature in the Sackträger vineyard dropped to -9°C. A very young Frank, his father, uncle, and one other worker picked the frozen grapes berry by berry just before sunrise. The sugar at harvest was amazingly high and matched by ample acidity. This wine is in superb condition, having been stored at the winery this entire time and re-corked in 2021. At soon to be 30 years of age, the nose is dense with sweet orchard fruits and then it literally fills your mouth with flavor. A thrilling wine plus an amazing family history. Many thanks to the team that made this rare treat.

2020 Oppenheimer Sackträger Riesling Trocken ‘GG’ (Dr. Heyden)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Fast forward more than a quarter century and we have another terrific Dr. Heyden Oppenheimer Sackträger Riesling. This one is also amazingly concentrated, but totally dry. The peach and apricot fruit are fused to an intense limestone minerality. This 2020 is an amazing value from one of the best vineyards in the Rheinhessen. It will make a great pairing with crab cakes and a summer corn salad.

Specialty Foods

Inflation Reduction Cheese

Specialty foods have not been immune to the price increases of the last few years. These days it is not uncommon for the best artisan cheeses to break $30 per pound. While we wholeheartedly believe those cheeses are worth the price, there are still great values to be found at a lower price point for everyday enjoyment. Here are a few of our favorites that prove you can still get a delicious, high-quality cheese for $20 a pound.

Cambozola Black Label $19.99 per lb
Käserei Champignon – Allgäu, Germany
Cambozola Black Label is a triple-cream cheese with a mild veining of blue mold. The sweet and buttery flavor makes this the perfect gateway cheese for those just testing out the “blue mold” waters. This rich and creamy cheese is equally appropriate as an appetizer or dessert.

Wookey Cave Aged Cheddar $19.99 per lb
Ford Farm – Dorset, England
This classic English cheddar is aged in the natural cave system at Wookey Hole in Dorset. It has a bold, fruity, and earthy flavor that will pair well with an English ale or a full-bodied red wine. Wookey Cave Aged Cheddar is a great value cheese that has been a staple of the Wine Cask for years.

Melinda Mae $19.99 per lb
Mystic Cheese Company – Groton, CT
Melinda Mae is a bloomy-rind cow’s milk cheese with a mild creamy flavor and pudgy texture. Delicate in flavor and soft to the touch, this cheese is perfect for a casual snack on the porch. Pair it with fresh or preserved fruits and a chilled white wine.

Crema Alpina $19.99 per lb
High Lawn Farm – Lee, MA
Crema Alpina is a 100% Jersey cow’s milk washed-rind cheese. Aged 2 months, this soft-ripened cheese develops a sweet, creamy interior which stands in contrast to its robust and pungent rind. Nestled in the Berkshires, High Lawn has been a working family farm and dairy since 1923.