“Ten Years After” 2008 Dry Riesling Tasting (mostly Germany)

Private Location
Tasted Saturday, May 5, 2018 by m_arcon with 319 views

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs 94 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    A still very youthful Hermannshöhle in the nose. You only find stone, herbs and some white fruit aromas in the beginning. With some more time, air and temperature in the glass the fruit gets more present with a hint of unripe yellow stone fruit and I also can find some lemon gras and tee notes. What I really liked was the quite dry mouth entry and still on the mid palate the wine appears quite dry for German Riesling standards. Medium body with a lovely acidity level, long stone driven finish. Really nice overall balance. An absolutely great start into the tasting. 94-95

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  • 2008 Weingut Knoll Riesling Smaragd Ried Schütt 92 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    I really liked the Knoll in the last 08 tasting and it also delivered here. Although the competitors in this flight were very strong. A super fine nose starts off with some sponti, flinty notes. Still very youthful. After some time you´ll get more yellow, unripe stone fruit, but never an exotic touch which is normally an indicator for a Wachau Smaragd Riesling. Everything is underlaid with a lovely, super fine green herbal component. Very balanced and lean palate. A very harmonious showing.

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  • 2008 Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs 93 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    In the beginning not the typical Halenberg nose but after some time you find the super fine, sweet tone this vineyard always shows imo. Also a fine mineral note from the slate underground, some spices, mixed white and yellow fruit alongside some citrus peel. A very balanced wine on the palate with a lively acidity, very elegant, long and fresh although it has a bit brighter shoulders. Still lots of potential left.
    On this evening the last magic didn´t jump over for me. I´m not quite sure what was the problem. Nevertheless another really, relly good showing from one of the most reliable GGs out of Germany year in and year out.

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Singerriedel 92 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    Here we have the typical ripe nose of a Wachau Riesling. But Hirtzberger always knows to keep everything in a good balance. Of course you have honey, mango, papaya and all this exotic but also a kind of salted citrus component, camomile and lots of spices. On the palate typically round, full bodied but the acidity ist stil on a very good level and the wine doesn´t appears to fat or bold. Always one of ma favorites from the „big“ Wachau guys.

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  • 2008 Wittmann Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs 95 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    The first word which comes to my mind when I think back to this wine ist harmony. Citrus, herbs, unripe yellow stone fruit, super fine spices and a hint of sweetness on the fantastic nose. Very complex and imo still holding back another layer underneath. On the palate this Kirchspiel delivers the nearly perfect balance between power and elegance. Very precise with a great acidity core and long finish. An absolutely stunning showing and in this tasting better than the same vineyard interpretation from Keller.

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  • 2008 Weingut Keller Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs 93 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    In the nose lots of herbs and this typical, slightly „green“ component the GGs from Keller can have in this vintage. Once more, once less. I´m not the biggest fan of this style, but in the Kirchspiel it isn´t that prominent than in the allegedly bigger guys like Abtserde and Morstein. It comes from the fact, that KPK experimented a lot in 2008 with whole bunch fermentation and stems. In this bottle of the Kirchspiel, the green notes were slightly more upfront than in the one I had in our last 08 retro tasting, which showed absolutely spectacular. On this evening the Keller wine also shows this kind of freshness mixed with sea salt and a bit of yellow fruit which turns into the typical Keller pineapple with more temperature and air in the glass. Very long and precise finish. Good but not as good as the last bottle an another proof that cellaring definitely can make a difference. There is still some potential left here. 93+

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Flight 4 (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Georg Breuer Rüdesheimer Berg Schloßberg Riesling 96 Points

    Germany, Rheingau

    Not as expressive as the last bottle but again the WOTN for me. The nose is a bit withdrawn in the beginning but opens up after some time in the glass. Very precise, cool and elegant with aromas of citrus and lime zest, unripe yellow stone fruit, orange zest and a hint of pineapple mixed with tons of stone and mineral elements. What always stunns me in the Schlossberg is the super lively acidity which cuts through like a laser beam (not as hard as the Trimbach later but on a high level). Super complex, wonderful harmonious with an immens tension, length and depth. Don´t get me wrong, this is still a very young wine and I´m sure it will be better and better in 5, 10, 15 years. 96-97

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  • 2008 Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Riesling trocken Goldkapsel 94 Points

    Germany, Rheingau

    This was one of the biggest surprises during this tasting for me. I´m not very familiar with Künstler but normally the wines can be a bit broad and bold like the 2015s I tasted some time ago. They were not really my preferred style but this 08 was different. You definitely can feel the ripeness in the nose with ripe yellow fruit, apple and just a hint of honey. But on the palate there is more a salty citrus component than ripe fruit. Fresh with lots of grip, power and tension on the mid-palate. Very long. Young mentioned it could maybe have just a hint of Botrytis. For me this was a top notch wine and also a proof, that you should sometimes check to see whether your prejudices are still right. I´m much higher in my rating here as Dirk but I think this wine deserves it.

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  • 2008 Peter Jakob Kühn Riesling Schlehdorn 96 Points

    Germany, Rheingau

    Peter-Jakob Kühn was one of the pioneers of „natural“ wine in Germany. He very early began to experiment with no interventions in the vineyard, no herbicides, etc. I think in the actual vintages the estate found a good compromise between „natural“ and normal wine making, bringing the best of both worlds together. But in the vintages shortly after he turned his wine making some of his bottles can be a real rollercoaster, so I was quite curious how the 08 Schlehdorn shows. And he didn´t let me down. Kühn always has a very own style, and also here you have these very strong but mild herbal, green tea, and in this case, sesame components. Everything is underlaid by the ripe (but not overripe) fruit. This isn´t a loud wine in any sense on the palate. Multi layered, floating down the palate like pure silk. Everything is wonderfully interwoven. Harmony and balance are the two key words here. Not a wine for posers, no, more for the introverted drinker. But an absolutely great one in any sense of the word.

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Flight 5 (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Spätlese Trocken "R"

    Germany, Pfalz

    For me personally all the 2008s from Koehler-Ruprecht we had aren´t in the best drinking mood now. I would highly recommend to wait for at least another 3 years for the normal Auslese, 5 for the Spätlese R and better 10 for the 2008 Auslese R. Therefore no ratings.
    Short note here: Apple juice, apple, stone, good acidity, good length. Needs time.

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  • 2008 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Auslese trocken "R"

    Germany, Pfalz

    For me personally all the 2008s from Koehler-Ruprecht we had aren´t in the best drinking mood now. I would highly recommend to wait for at least another 3 years for the normal Auslese, 5 for the Spätlese R and better 10 for the 2008 Auslese R. Therefore no ratings.
    Had this wine three times over the last month and it was always not on the level this wine could definitely be (look up my note on the 2001 some weeks ago). Lots of herbal notes like thyme, ripe fruit, cinamon, a kind of „orange wine“ component. Let it sleep for a long, long time.

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  • 2008 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Auslese trocken

    Germany, Pfalz

    For me personally all the 2008s from Koehler-Ruprecht we had aren´t in the best drinking mood now. I would highly recommend to wait for at least another 3 years for the normal Auslese, 5 for the Spätlese R and better 10 for the 2008 Auslese R. Therefore no ratings.
    Wet paper, stone, herbs, gets better with time in the glass. Very good acidity level. Needs time.

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Flight 6 (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 94 Points

    France, Alsace

    I already liked F.E. a lot in the last 08 tasting and also this time it delivers (for me) on a high level, although I have to say that not all of the drinkers at the table liked the wine in the same way. Very multi layered, changes every minute in the glass. Lots of white fruit, white flowers, mint, cassis and wet stone notes on the nose. Bone dry (and I really mean it) and the driest Riesling of the whole bunch, mineral drive, acidity on the edge, lean, precise and long. An other, challenging but also quite strong interpretation of the Riesling grape. Well done!

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  • 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Ried Kellerberg

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    The Pichler had a hard standing in the direct comparison with the Trimbach although they were some concerns, that the Kellerberg wasn’t in the best condition. On the nose quite tired with some ripe yellow fruit, yellow flowers and a bit of a oxidative note. On the palate a bit broad without the last detailed focus. Stone driven finish. Balance is quite good. NR

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Flight 7 (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Van Volxem Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Alte Reben 90 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    For me by far the best out of the Mosel flight, which was in my very own opinion miles away from the other wines in this tasting. If we come to the more recent vintages the gap between Mosel dry and the other big German regions for dry Riesling is closer but not here.
    The Altenberg has a charming nose with white fruit, wet stone and a bit of citrus peel. On the palate the acidity can’t manage to cut through the residual sugar and so the wine appears a bit flabby. Creamy mouth feel but short in the finish. Maybe this wine will develop more in some years but I’m not sure.

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  • 2008 Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein Winninger Uhlen Riesling "R" Roth Lay 86 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    For me by far the worst wine of the tasting and I was very surprised by Dirks score but sometimes opinion in wines differs and I think that is what makes wine such an interesting topic.
    Lots of overripe fruit (Botrytis), stinging nettles, camomile and tea notes mixed with a strange, unappealing “dirty” component. Very creamy, full but without any tension, acidity and precision on the palate. Absolutely not my cup of tea. Maybe better with more air.

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  • 2008 Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Riesling Großes Gewächs 88 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    A bit of vanilla, acid drops and apple juice. The acidity level is on a good level but also this wine was a bit uninspired imo. Better than the HL.

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Flight 8 (2 Notes)

  • 1999 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Forster Pechstein Riesling 96 Points

    Germany, Pfalz

    What a joy after this Mosel flight. Thanks to Young for the bottle! Incredible young showing. More on the white fruit side on the nose with white peach, pears, white flowers and a bit of cassis. Clean and transparent but also very complex with layers over layers. There is still so much potential underneath that I ask myself how long have these wines to age if you want to see the whole picture.
    On the palate dry, vibrant but also round (Pfalz) without being broad-shouldered. Very clear, again more in the white fruit spectrum. Great length and elegance but also with the power of a truly great Riesling. Long finish with a sea salt aftertaste. A wonderful experience and another proof (lots of proofs through this tasting haha) that BWs best wines need time. A LOT of time. Young told me, that this wasn’t the best bottle. He had one two weeks ago which was a 99 point wine for him (he scored this bottle 94).

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  • 1993 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese Nr. 30 93 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    I thought we can’t finish this tasting without a off-dry wine so I pulled this Karthäuserhof out of my cellar. 93 is definitely one of the better vintages out of the 90s for off-dry Riesling imo and this Cask Auslese wasn’t an exception. Typical Ruwer with lot of herbs, citrus, tangerine and a bit of peach notes. Definitely remind me of Grünhaus. Playful acidity which buffers the sugar in a good way but some more years will definitely help here. A lovely wine.

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