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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2024 and 2044 (based on 15 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.9 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 15 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Richard P Howden on 5/19/2021 & rated 92 points: A lighter styled Auslese, tons of fruit but not overly sweet, crystalline, pure, refreshing with lovely body. Very good. (992 views) | | | Tasted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine on 7/30/2020 & rated 94 points: Zooming in on Riveting Rieslings: Zooming in on Riveting Rieslings
All wines prepared as follows: Opened between 4:00 and 4:30, poured into jars for transport, poured into glasses and tasted starting at 6:30. The following wines were tasted:
1995 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek
2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
2007 Dönnhoff Felsentürmchen Riesling Spätlese
2007 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4
2016 Nigl Riesling 1OTW Privat Pellingen
1997 Taylor Fladgate Porto (Dessert wine)
Groups top 3:
WOTN - 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
2nd - (Tie) 2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4
2nd - (Tie) 2007 Dönnhoff Felsentürmchen Riesling Spätlese
My Order:
WOTN - 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
2nd - (Tie) 2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4
2nd - (Tie) 2007 Dönnhoff Felsentürmchen Riesling Spätlese
4th - 1995 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek
5th - (Tie) 2007 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
5th - (Tie) 2016 Nigl Riesling 1OTW Privat Pellingen
2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4: What can I say, if nothing else, this tasting confirmed that slightly sweet, well balanced Rieslings are right in my wheelhouse. Like the Prum and Donnhoff, this wine strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, and between fruit and minerality.
Nose shows stone fruit (predominantly peach), some petrol and flint with a hint of tropical fruit (pineapple). The palate follows suit, but saline replaces the petrol. Finish is medium. A young wine that drinks well now, and will likely improve with additional bottle age. Excellent QPR here too. 93-94 points. Group's and my number 2 wine (tied with Donnhoff). (1742 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 7/30/2020 & rated 93 points: Virtual Riesling Tasting (Home): Light gold color. Wines were opened and poured into vessels between 4-4:30pm, poured into glasses around 6:30pm; drank a glass over 3 hours. Very tropical, pineapple, apple, tangerine, passion fruit, zesty minerality, petrol, youthfully boisterous, full bodied and also very plush in the mouth. It wad better on the next night. 93 day one and 93+ to 94pts day two. (1385 views) | | | Tasted by galewskj on 7/30/2020 & rated 94 points: Virtual Rieslings: Typical Wili Schaefer, you get a fairly classical German riesling frame, but with a little more fruit to dazzle you. This was my #3 riesling among a really stellar group. (1300 views) | | | Tasted by Richard P Howden on 8/16/2019 & rated 92 points: Excellent. Tons of peach and honey nose. Dry peach, apple, lemon on the palate with medium acidity. Very long tart tingling honeyed finish. Probably too young. Next one in a few years. (1181 views) | | | Tasted by vinkeger on 10/21/2017: Luftet på karaffel i 2 timer, og fortsatt veldig beskjeden på duft. I munn er den utrolig ren med medium pluss konsentrasjon. En litt lett auslese stilmessig. Aprikosdominert frukt med innslag av mango ananas og appelsin i munn. Saftig og bløt frukt med et lite honningpreg. Integrert syre, flott balanse. Litt brå utgang for nivået. En lett utgave av auslese med lite botrytis. Savner noe intensitet og lengde. Drukket før og overskygget av Schaefers 2010 ausleser. (1664 views) | | | Tasted by Rieslingfan on 7/8/2016: A gorgeous wine. The fruit is perfectly ripe, like biting into a dripping peach. The acidity is bracing and balances the richness of the wine to a perfect point. Just amazing despite being so young. (2165 views) | | | Tasted by WillersC on 9/13/2015 & rated 92 points: Delicious, smooth, but perhaps a little soft. Great length and balance. (2044 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 4/29/2015 & rated 93 points: Chicago ♥ Willi Schaefer (Chicago, IL): #04-13, 7% abv. Well, the reports of the shutdown of 2012 riesling have been much exaggerated. We were all very surprised by how open this bottle was (that said, I've found that Himmelreich tends to be a bit more accessible young than Domprobst, as far as Schaefer is concerned). The nose has lovely white floral notes, and is expansive and light. The baby-fat is really prominent now, with a lot of juicy white peach notes on the palate. A slightly thick texture that does come off a bit fat, but there's ample acidity on the honeyed finish to keep things light. (2750 views) | | | Tasted by Sennma on 4/29/2015 & rated 92 points: Tropical fruits with a nice tingle on the palate. Good acid/balance, not as heavy as some Auslese. 7.0% ABV (2061 views) | | | Tasted by WillersC on 4/16/2015 & rated 92 points: Another delicious bottle of this gorgeous wine (1610 views) | | | Tasted by WillersC on 12/14/2014 & rated 92 points: Really lovely auslese, very fresh and lithe and not heavy. The only problem is that this goes down to easy and before you know it the bottle is empty! (1378 views) | | | Tasted by Rieslingfan on 4/18/2014: Continuing with the string of outstanding 2012 bottles from Willi Schaefer, the Himmelreich Auslese has depth of flavor, brightness to spare, and an elegance that stands out in the genre of modern Auslese. This is not some massive botrytis bomb, nor is it oversized/overwrought in any other way. It is pure, drinkable, stony, fruity, vibrant Auslese that refreshes the palate and the intellect. Great wine that fits perfectly with the rest of the range from this estate. (1755 views) | | | Tasted by salil on 11/13/2013 & rated 95 points: This is outrageously good. An array of fresh Riesling fruit, florality, vivid slatey minerality and gentle honeyed notes, but what's really striking here is the sense of purity and sheer electricity. There's no perceptible botrytis, it's an Auslese that's about drinkability rather than showy sweetness, and the acidity here makes this feel amazingly light and vibrant on the palate, every sip almost crackling as if a livewire was passed through this. Stunning Riesling - thanks Jay. (2102 views) | | | Tasted by Seth Rosenberg on 10/23/2013 & rated 94 points: Chalk and white flowers on the nose. Crisp with lots of lime and acid. Really lively: gets the salivary glands going. Really razor-like: sharp but good. Enters with stones and chalk - very juicy and acidic. Lots of orange, apple, peach and lime. I'm salivating just writing up this note. White gold: pure and beautiful. This is drinking the best of the Auslese right now. 17/20 with 17.5/20 potential. (1676 views) |
| Willi Schaefer Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
Contact Info for Willi Schaefer
Weingut Willi Schaefer is one of only eight German estates listed in Parker’s book The World’s Greatest Wine Estates. He describes the wines as: “Glorious, pleasurable, but extraordinarily complex, savoury and just compelling. These are wines of purity, integrity and restraint, but understated power and intensity.”Riesling Varietal character (Appellation America) | A short history of Riesling (Uncork) | Riesling (wikipedia)Graacher HimmelreichDer Weinort Graach und seine Weinlagen
Der Weinort Graach, moselabwärts neben Bernkastel-Kues gelegen, wird erstmals im Jahre 975 in einer Urkunde des Trierer Erzbischofs Theoderich (965-977) erwähnt. Der Ortsname "Graach" selbst ist keltischen Ursprungs und weist auf die Besiedelung des Moseltales durch den keltischen Stamm der Treverer im 5. Jahrhundert v.Chr. hin. Daß Graach eine ehemals bedeutende keltische Siedlung gewesen sein muß, belegen Ausgrabungen aus jüngerer Zeit, die auf der Moselhöhe über dem Ort einen keltischen Tempelbezirk freigelegt haben.
English translation below--cleaned-up Google Translate. jht
In Graach, das zu den größten Weinbaugemeinden des mittelalterlichen kurtrierischen Staates zählte, hatte die Geistlichkeit umfangreiche Besitzungen. Nach einer Aufstellung aus dem Jahre 1720 gehörten der Kirche 25% der Gemarkung; zusammen mit einigen ritterschaftlichen Besitzungen waren ein Drittel der Graacher Weinberge in grundherrschaftlichem Besitz. Noch heute zeugen die verbliebenen Weinbergsnamen Himmelreich, Dompropst, Abtsberg und Josefshof von diesen engen Bindungen zu den geistlichen Feudalherren.
Wie überall an der Mosel begann der Aufschwung des qualitätsorientierten, bürgerlichen Weinbaues mit der Säkularisation des Kirchenbesitzes durch den Reichsdeputationshauptschluß 1803, als ein Großteil des geistlichen Besitzes für billigstes Geld veräußert werden mußte. Die Eingliederung des Moselgebietes in das Königreich Preußen brachte wirtschaftliche Blüte und veranlaßte viele, nunmehr zu Grundeigentum gekommene Winzer, ihre Weinberge mit Rieslingreben zu bepflanzen, die bessere Qualitäten bei geringeren Mengenerträgen brachten, als die zuvor verwendeten Kleinbergerreben. Der Ruf der Graacher Weine konnte sehr schnell Anerkennung finden und bereits 1837 schrieb Christian von Stramberg , der Klassiker unter den Weinautoren, Graach produziere einen der edelsten Moselweine.
Der Graacher Weinberg selbst ist Teil des mächtigen, rechts der Mosel gelegenen Schieferhang-Massives, das sich von Bernkastel über Graach und Wehlen bis nach Zeltingen hinstreckt und eine Fülle weltbekannter Rieslinglagen aufweist: den Berncasteler Doctor, die Badstube, Graacher Himmelreich und
Dompropst, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr und Schloßberg. Die Graacher Weinbergsgemarkung weist ca. 135 ha Rebfläche aus und ist ausnahmslos mit Rieslingreben bestockt. Die beiden großen und bedeutendsten Lagen Dompropst und Himmelreich haben davon einen Anteil von 28,5 ha bzw. 87 ha. Die Exposition der 100%igen Steillagen liegt nach Süd-Westen; der Boden ist mittel- bis tiefgründiger steiniger, frisch verwitternder Tonschiefer.
Während der Name "Dompropst" direkten Bezug nimmt auf den Trierer Dompropst, dem ein Drittel des Weinzehnten von Graach zustand, ist der Name "Himmelreich" als hochgelegene und alle Winzerwünsche erfüllende Lagenbezeichnung zu deuten.
Geo-Data:http://www.weinlagen-info.de/?lage_id=1583
The wine making town of Graach and its vineyards
The wine-growing 'Ort' of Graach, situated along the Mosel bank next to and northwest of Bernkastel proper is mentioned for the first time in 975 in a document of Trier Archbishop Theodoric (965-977). The place name "Graach" itself is of Celtic origin and points to the settlement of the Mosel valley by the Celtic tribe of the Treverer in the 5th century BC. The fact that Graach must have been a formerly important Celtic settlement is confirmed by recent excavations, which have uncovered a Celtic temple district on the Mosel.
In Graach, one of the largest winegrowing communities of the medieval Kyrgyz state, the clergy had extensive possessions. According to a list from the year 1720, the church controlled 25% of the territory; Along with some knightly possessions, a third of the Graach vineyards were owned by individuals. The remaining vineyard names of Himmelreich, Dompropst (Domprobst), Abtsberg and Josefshof still bear witness to these close ties to the spiritual feudal lords.
As everywhere in the Mosel, the rise of quality-oriented, small-tenant viticulture began with the secularization of the possession of the church by the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss 1803, when a large part of the Church's property had to be sold for what they could bring at auction. The incorporation of the Mosel region into the kingdom of Prussia brought economic prosperity, and led many vintners, who had now become property owners, to plant their vineyards with Riesling vines, which yielded better qualities at lower volumes than the small-scale vines used previously. The Church is also remembered as playing a role in the propagation of Riesling in the best sites along the Mosel--jht.) The reputation of the Graach wines was very quickly recognized and as early as 1837: Christian von Stramberg, the classic among wine authors, wrote, "Graach produced one of the noblest Mosel wines."
The slope on which the Graach vignoble is located is part of the powerful Schieferhang massif, situated on the right side of the Mosel. It stretches from Bernkastel past Graach and Wehlen to Zeltingen and has an abundance of world-famous Riesling sites: Bernkasteler Doctor, Badstube, Graacher Himmelreich und Dompropst (Domprobst more usual spelling these days), Wehlener Sonnenuhr, The Zeltinger Sonnenuhr and Schloßberg. Within the vineyard boundaries of Graach there are about 135 hectares (300 acres) of vineyards and therein is grown only Riesling. The two major and most important locations of Dompropst and Himmelreich have a share of 28.5 ha (64 acres) and 87 ha (196 acres) respectively. The exposure of the 100% steep slopes is to the south-west; The soil is medium to deeply rocky, quick weathering [hard blue clay--jht] slate. [Erosion off the slopes is a serious problem in Graach. jht]
While the name "Dompropst" refers directly to the Trier Dompropst, or Cathedral provost or financial official, which was one third of the best of Graach available to the Church, the name "Himmelreich" ishould also be thought of as a high level vineyard whose quality limits depend only on the skills of the maker.Germany Wines of Germany | The Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) | How to read a German wine label | Geographical Information Down to Single Vineyards
#2014 Vintage Notes:
2014 Vintage Report by Terry Theise
2014 Vintage Report by Wine Spectator
"My gut still tells me the Saar (and to some extent) the Ruwer are better overall in 2014 than the more storied areas of the Mosel proper, but those that spent the requisite time living in their middle-Mosel vineyards made some of the most electric and "feathery" Riesling in a long time (maybe the finest in 20 years - yes, it's true!)" - Jon Rimmerman (Of course only a very short historical memory would call the Saar and Ruwer less 'storied' than the middle Mosel - jht)Mosel Saar RuwerStarting in 2007 the German wine authorities have changed labeling laws to rename all of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wines to just "Mosel." This puts this and other database driven sites in a difficult spot, as millions of old wine label reflect the former labeling. As described here, CellarTracker has elected to remain with the old labeling for a number of years to avoid confusion. At some point we will switch over to just "Mosel" but not for a few years at least.
Mosel WeinKulturland (Moselwein e.V.)
Detailed geographical information at weinlagen.info
#2018 Vintage Notes:
"Acid levels are relatively low throughout Riesling-growing Europe (acidification will once again be permitted in Germany – no surprise, as that’s been the case in eight of the last 10 vintages); but because malic acid was baked off or degraded by relentlessly balmy weather means, what acid remains is overwhelmingly of the efficacious tartaric sort. Extract levels are low, as one would anticipate from a growing season during which relatively little moisture was coursing through the vine’s roots and shoots. [...] Everyone is astonished how there could have been so much juice despite the drought." - David Schildknecht
"2018 is a homogenous vintage with a very high general level, below which it seldom falls [...] It leads with blossom. It is perhaps 80% delicious and 20% fascinating." - Terry Theise
#2017 Vintage Notes:
"not so friendly towards light wines" - Milkmansteve
#2016 Vintage Notes: "Overall, 2016 is a charmer of a vintage with much immediate ripe and fruity appeal, not unlike 2011 (in fresher) or 2007 (in lighter). However, 2016 is far from being homogeneous, in fact it is composed of a mosaic of vintages, a result of the freakish growing conditions. Hidden inside the vintage, there are true gems with the balance of 1997, one of the best vintages ever, 2002 or even 2008. The bulk of the harvest was brought in with refreshingly moderate sugar levels. Overall, the Saar and Ruwer produced slightly fresher wines than the Middle Mosel but there are great differences between Estates. The good harvest conditions allowed for some Auslese, little BA and even TBA wines, but some remarkably pure and fruity Eiswein.
In general, 2016 offers the opportunity to acquire Riesling with great immediate ripe appeal: The vintage is a true charmer. At the top, 2016 is one of the most exciting and elegantly balanced vintage since the 1990s and well-worth stocking up for cellaring! In particular, we urge our readers to literally plunge onto the finest Kabinett and Spätlese: These are some of the most exciting and classic we have ever tasted. 2016 looks also set to become a major vintage for dry Riesling, provided the aromatics are not overripe. Lovers of dessert wines will find much to love in 2016 as the Auslese are pure and the Eiswein are gorgeously fruity. They should however also keep an eye open for the remaining stunning noble-sweet wines from 2015 which are still available here and there." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 36, July 2017
#2014 Vintage Notes:
"The heterogeneity of the 2014 vintage carries over onto the aging process. The top wines start to close down, as one would expect from these wines which are a remake of those from the 1990s. The wines affected by gin, saffron and mushroom flavors are still comparatively open and offer a not unattractive Scheurebe styled fruit opulence. We would opt to drink up these lesser wines except for the odd bottle and bury the little treasures of the vintage deep into the cellar." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 30, March 2016
#2013 Vintage Notes:
"The fruity-styled 2013 wines have firmed up significantly since last year and start to show signs of closing down, making the underlying acidity seemingly sharp and out of balance. The better dry wines have come out of their early armor of smoke and tannin but the acidity may prove quite challenging. Quite frankly, except for some smaller bottlings, this is a vintage to lay down and wait." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2012 Vintage Notes:
"The 2012 wines have put on some flesh and go through a 'fattier' phase which is not unlike what the 2007 went through at the same period. However, the zestier acidity cuts through this 'weight' and makes the wines thoroughly enjoyable at this early stage. In particular the fruity Kabinett and Spatlese as well as the off-dry and dry wines offer much pleasure. We expect these wines to close down over the coming year or two. Enjoy while it lasts!" - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2011 Vintage Notes:
"A bit to our surprise, the 2011 wines have shut down and go through a quite difficult and muted phase now. Their low acidity combined with their maturity makes them feel rich, opulent and often bulky, and thus not really enjoyable. We expect that these will need at least a decade to integrate their sweetness and gain in harmony. The only exception is the dry wines, whose low acidity makes for great food companionship." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2010 Vintage Notes:
"After a mellower period in 2012, many 2010 wines have firmed up and developed a stronger smoky side. However, most continue to shine through their fruit opulence, structure and deliciously zesty but ripe acidity. This suits in particular the off-dry bottlings, which have more charm than the legally dry wines. Will these wines close down? Actually, the softening acidity makes us wonder now but it also provides further evidence that these wines will turn out harmonious after all." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2009 Vintage Notes:
"Most 2009 wines have closed down, which accentuates their round and soft side forward. Many can still be quite enjoyable but the times of primary fruit with its attractive aromatic expression and a generous acidic kick are now over. Except for the dry wines, we would definitely recommend keeping your hands off any bottle in your cellar and possibly buying more wines from this vintage on the market as these are true gems in the making." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015 |
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