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Rudi Weist German Tasting (presented by David Bowler)
Tribeca Grill
Tasted May 22, 2006 by Mlermontov with 2,368 views
Introduction
A HUGE thanks to David Bowler for letting me attend! It was trully both a pleasure and an education.
General Notes:
1) excellence of quality throughout the tasting
2) producers who took care to watch the balance were able to create majestic wines with great acidity (Zilliken TBA has 14g acidity! and apparently his auction TBA is at 17 grams!!!!!!) - but those who didnt ended up with fat wines ala '03. will those slim down? i think so but buyer beware.
3) when borytis hit it was clean - amazingly clean - you cant taste it in the wine almoust at all - none of the heavy peach and bitterness on the finish anywhere (the only wine that showed any botrytis openly was the Von Hovel QBA...i know QBA! ...)
Saar/Ruwer seems like the winners in '05 - at least from my palatte. the 2 tastings i've been to so far Zilliken, Von Schubert and Schloss Saarstein have impressed me with the ir elegance and balance. But this takes nothing away from great winemakers elsewhere - Haag's, Weils, Basserman Jordans and others wines are gems! so thats just a generalization.
Best of tasting goes to the Zilliken Lineup - they hit it out of the park on this. A TRUE HOMERUN.
Most improved - Wegeler - some serious wines there that impressed me a lot.
others of note:
Fritz Haag (and Lieser - since its the same hand of Wilhelm Haag)
Schaefer-Froelich
Weil
ok now to the notes
Flight 1 - Dry wines (12 notes)
Red
2004 Weingut Graf Adelmann Lemberger
interesting wine, closer to a rose, perfumy - and like tea? pretty wine
White
2005 Weingut Graf Adelmann Pinot Gris
a bit fat/flabby, interestin if in the $10 range, but above that looses the point.
Red
2004 Dr. Heger Blauer Spätburgunder Trocken
like a rose in lightness, very pleasant wine. an interesting buy at that price ($18-20?)
Red
2004 Dr. Heger Spätburgunder trocken Mimus
88 points
more serious wine, with a lot going on and it needs time, has a lot of potential
White - Off-dry
2005 Dr. Heger Ihringer Winklerberg Weissburgunder Spätlese
was hoping for more from this. a bit tight so may show up with time bit for now not showing much of anything
White
2005 Hans Wirsching Silvaner Trocken
juicy middle with cantelope? lots of lightness and balanced acidity. interesting.
White
2005 Hans Wirsching Iphöfer Kronsberg Scheurebe Kabinett trocken
lean and mean wine, ok qpr but not memorable
White
2005 Hans Wirsching Iphöfer Kronsberg Riesling Spätlese trocken
clean wine, a bit bitter on the finish. good qpr
Red
2004 Rudolf Fürst Spätburgunder Tradition
a very nice wine - pleasant with a bit of tannin. i would give it a few yars and put it bling with a burgundy fligh. it would not be TOO obvious - and would stand up to many.
White
2005 Rudolf Fürst Pinot Blanc Trocken
great nose, fruity and mineraly at the same time. good balance and acidity.
White
2005 Rudolf Fürst Müller-Thurgau Kabinett trocken
excellent nose, apples and peaches, great acidity and good qpr
Flight 2 - Semi-Dry (9 notes)
White - Off-dry
2005 Milz Laurentiushof Riesling halbtrocken
87 points
clean and lean. good now and great qpr. (under $15)
White - Off-dry
2005 Milz Laurentiushof Trittenheimer Felsenkopf Riesling Spätlese Mosel Saar Ruwer
88 points
a bit fat - like the '03s were, but with good pure fruit.
White - Off-dry
2005 Milz Laurentiushof Trittenheimer Leiterchen Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
91 points
leaner version of an auslese with excellent acidity and balance. with time this will be a dinner wine not at all a dessert. good stuff
White - Off-dry
White
2005 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
86 points
a bit surprized here as well...maybe way too young but sugar and not much else showing... hmm...pleasant but expected more from this producer
White - Off-dry
2005 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
88 points
again - i really liked this producer in both '03 where they managed to make balanced wines and in '04 - whats going on here? weak, lots of sugar but no balance...
White
2004 Weingut Reinhold Haart Riesling Haart to Heart
87 points
have to disagree with David S. not a 90 for me. it was light and balanced but i didnt get the level of fruit he describes. maybe it suffered in the company but didnt excite me.
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Auslese
89 points
this is a bit fat now but has the potential to develop, serious concentration of flavor.
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Reinhold Haart Wintricher Ohligsberg Riesling Auslese
89 points
(89++) leaner that the piesporter and with better acidity, needs time but has the stuffing
Flight 3 - Wegeler (7 notes)
very impressed with the wines here. the two spatlese were a sure BUY
White - Off-dry
2005 Wegeler Riesling halbtrocken
86 points
nice clean wine with a touch of rs on the finish (18grams RS) great qpr
White
2005 Wegeler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
88 points
needs more power, but this is a good wine, showing classical mosel notes. great intro to riesling and will age and slim down!
White
2005 Wegeler Rüdesheimer Berg Schloßberg Riesling Kabinett
89 points
excellent value, long finish, more masculine (Rheingau!) great balance.
White - Off-dry
2005 Wegeler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
91 points
excellent wine! kirsch, candy notes melt together with more classical apple and mineral... put this one away and watch it blossom.
White - Off-dry
2005 Wegeler Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese
88 points
maybe its just me...but i expect so much from this vineyard...and i keep getting let down... this was the chink in the armor for the lineup. balanced but boring.
White - Off-dry
2005 Wegeler Geisenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Auslese
89 points
an interesting wine that needs way more time to even taste - but has the potential. lots of fruit but a bit disjointed now
White - Off-dry
2005 Wegeler Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese
91 points
dont know which i like more..the feminine WS spat or thsi...masculine and powerfull, serious wine with red berries dominating. baby Weil. great value for the price. LOOONG finish
Flight 4 - Von Hovel (4 notes)
Great collection although very backward wines. lots of stuffing but will need time.
White
2005 Von Hövel Riesling Balduin Von Hovel
91 points
Freaky wine! nose screams botrytis, instead of a qba this is amoust dessert wine - weird but in a good way! amazing qpr and just plain fun - serve this with cheese or foie gras ! YUM! (oh and 80 grams RS!)
White
2005 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Monopollage Kabinett
89 points
back to earth after that QBA :)
great acidity, good fruit. these are on the richer side and will need time to slim down. but excellent QPR
great acidity, good fruit. these are on the richer side and will need time to slim down. but excellent QPR
White - Off-dry
2005 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Spätlese
91 points
excellent wine, balance and concentration are there, backward but will get there if given time. not a drink now wine but amazing qpr (under $22?)
White - Off-dry
2005 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Auslese
89 points
89+++ This wine is very young and needs lots of time to come together but when it does - watch out :) Lots of stuffing.
Flight 5 - Mönchhof (5 notes)
White
2005 Mönchhof Robert Eymael Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett
87 points
long finish but again - a bit flabby and fat
White - Off-dry
2005 Mönchhof Robert Eymael Riesling Spätlese Mosel Slate
89 points
light and lovely with true moselle notes - much better balance. good qpr
White - Off-dry
2005 Mönchhof Robert Eymael Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese
89 points
richer and spicier (duh!) with nice minerality. good wine and good qpr.
White - Off-dry
2005 Mönchhof Robert Eymael Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese
90 points
this needs lots of time but shows excellent concetration, should show lots better with 7-10 years of age and develop into a serious riesling when that minerality will have the chance to shine.
Flight 6 - Karthäuserhof (5 notes)
White
2005 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese trocken
89 points
89+ lean and mean but so elegant at the same time... this needs time for the rough edges to settle.
White
2005 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett
90 points
90+ this is not a wine i'd age, but this is a clean and sharp wine, with nice long finish that is perfect now.
White - Off-dry
2005 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese
91 points
Elegant wine, slowly uncoiling layers of minerality and fruit, will be amazing with time, loooong finish.
White - Off-dry
2005 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese
92 points
this is the lean - food wine Auslese - very pure, essence of minerality, lovely apples and pears on the foreground, long unending finish.
White - Off-dry
2005 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese Nr. 18
94 points
how do you one-up the previous wine? add another layer of fruit! amazing concentration (95 grams RS and 9.5 acidity)
Flight 7 - Schloss Lieser (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2005 Schloss Lieser Riesling halbtrocken
89 points
nose hiding, clean palatte witha touch of RS, long finish, a great party wine and an intro into Moselle Great qpr! (under $15)
White
2005 Schloss Lieser Riesling Kabinett
89 points
simmilar to the qba but with more precision and a bit more rs and concentration, will age short term and a great qpr as well
White - Off-dry
2005 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Spätlese
91 points
(91++) light, beautifully rich without the heavyness, bursting with acidity and minerality and all on the backdrop of ripe juicy fruit. Elegant SPAT - not a "declassified" auslese wannabe
White - Off-dry
2005 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
93 points
Serious wine, medium body but not a sugar bomb, needs wime to uncoil but will shine. Loads of layers here.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Beerenauslese
95 points
Do you know what tasting BA/TBA at this point is? its a "thank you" from the guy pouring to you. can you trully grasp this wine at such a young age and in a atrade tasting situation? NO! but i am not refusing any thats for sure!
Rich and deep wine, pure clean botrytis - in fact i couldnt tell if there was any there!
Rich and deep wine, pure clean botrytis - in fact i couldnt tell if there was any there!
Flight 8 - Fritz Haag (8 notes)
pleasure to talk to the man himself. that just adds another layer of understanding to the wine! A pleasure!
White
White
2005 Fritz Haag Riesling Kabinett
89 points
this one will need a bit more time, pear and rep apples, more minerality and concentration here. YUM! (GREAT QPR)
White
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett
89 points
drink me NOW attitude, drier with a laser-like acidity, YUM!!
White - Off-dry
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese
92 points
I must be the only person who prefers Juffer to Juffer-Sonnenuhr... but i do so all the time... hmm
elegant wine with long finish and bright acidity, this is a light spatlese that will keep its lightness while developing (the concentration is there - thats for sure!)
elegant wine with long finish and bright acidity, this is a light spatlese that will keep its lightness while developing (the concentration is there - thats for sure!)
White - Off-dry
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
91 points
richer but also thicker. the layers of fruit are covering everything else for now but needs time. great potential.
White - Off-dry
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
92 points
This has amazing concentration but keeps its balance and refreshing quality, loads of red berries and citrus/tropical fruit over minerality... not a dessert wine and not one to open any time soon. give this a decade or two
White - Off-dry
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
93 points
another layer! purity of fruit is amazing, unending finish, loads of concentrated goodness...WOW.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese
95 points
this had me shaking my head... yes its a dessert wine but so light! the acidity is (lyle forgive me for using without a patent" SICK! amazing wine especially in how it keeps its balance... yeah...just dont look at the price. :)
Flight 9 - Zilliken (8 notes)
What a great guy to talk to! A real treat and the wines - HOMERUN!!!!!
White - Off-dry
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Riesling Butterfly
86 points
bit rough, but may need a few months to come together?
White
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett
90 points
pure light expressive riesling. YUM! QPR ALLERT
White - Off-dry
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese
91 points
light style, excellent acidity, more tropical notes and grapefruits than green apple, layers of minerality.
White - Off-dry
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese
93 points
WOW , light style (think von schubert but a touch richer) this will need time to develop but there is serious concentration here. AMAZING
White - Off-dry
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
94 points
Another level? HOW?
a ton of concentrated flavors, and a wine that needs a lot of time.
a ton of concentrated flavors, and a wine that needs a lot of time.
White - Off-dry
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel
95 points
a first step into dessert wines, actually this has amazing refreshing quality so just give it 30 yars or so and have it with dinner :) not really kidding...
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Beerenauslese
97 points
can you truthfully say no?
mindblowing... 200+ grams of RS
mindblowing... 200+ grams of RS
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
98 points
i tasted a whole bunch of '03 TBAs... these are cleaner and have better acidity. dunno how...
14.5 grams od acidity, 300+ RS .. And apparently there is an auction TBA with 17+ grams of acidity... HOW? that would peel your teeth !!!
in any case - if you can buy it - DO SO!
14.5 grams od acidity, 300+ RS .. And apparently there is an auction TBA with 17+ grams of acidity... HOW? that would peel your teeth !!!
in any case - if you can buy it - DO SO!
Flight 10 - Bert Simon (6 notes)
White
2005 Bert Simon Serriger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
89 points
juicy pears, long finish, great qpr!!!
White - Off-dry
2005 Bert Simon Serriger Würtzberg Riesling Spätlese
88 points
good clean but a bit fat. needs time.
White - Off-dry
2005 Bert Simon Serriger Würtzberg Riesling Auslese
89 points
rich wine, thick but with a backbone. would need time to slim down to be a dinner wine but perfect now for cheese course.
White - Off-dry
2005 Bert Simon Serriger Herrenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
91 points
excelent wine with serious minerality that can contend with the rich fruit, amazing finish. YUM!
White - Off-dry
1999 Bert Simon Serriger Würtzberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
91 points
NICE! petrol notes already developing, balanced wine that needs 5 more years to fully settle in and it will be a lovely wine indeed!
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Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2003 Bert Simon Riesling Beerenauslese
92 points
rich tropical desert wine. YUM - not a long ager(10-15 instead of 30+) but i wouldnt refuse a glass
Flight 11 - Robert Weil (6 notes)
White
2005 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken
89 points
this is a drink now wine from Weil thats always good. a great qpr. very dry but balanced without the bitterness many trockens tend to have. beautifull fullblown nose. YUM
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Robert Weil Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken
this on the other hand i just dont get... oh well
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Robert Weil Riesling Spätlese
91 points
steel, masculinity and power... yeah we are in rheingau again!
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Spätlese
92 points
this is less power/steel and more mineral/fruit. lovely layers which need years of bottle age to shine. excellent wine.
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese
95 points
this is top-tier wine every year. its all the essence of rhen in one little bottle. amazing concentration and acidity keep this wine in perfect balance. If you can - try this!
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
97 points
do you really need notes here?
Flight 12 - Franz Künstler (5 notes)
Red
2004 Künstler Pinot Noir Dry
89 points
watch out next year for the '05!
this is a serious wine that has a lot to offer.
this is a serious wine that has a lot to offer.
White
2005 Künstler Hochheimer Stielweg Riesling Alte Reben Spätlese Trocken
92 points
dont like trockens...usually... but this was VERY good indeed. well balanced with a touch of RS (8grs), lots of power here and clean crisp finish
White
White
2005 Künstler Hochheimer Reichestal Riesling Kabinett
91 points
i have an issue here. this is not a kab. its a full blown spatlese. oh well.... QPR alert!!! 85grams of RS, but you cant taste it at all - amazing balance and acidity is so crisp! very grapy finish, elegant wine that will age well.
White - Off-dry
2005 Künstler Hochheimer Kirchenstück Riesling Spätlese
93 points
WOW ..but again - this is an auslese. 102 grams RS! ... but i will buy this. great value! and a very very well balanced wine!
Flight 13 - Schäfer-Fröhlich (6 notes)
White
2005 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Großes Gewächs
89 points
nice ballance, drink now attitude, touch of RS keeps it going..YUM!
White - Off-dry
2005 Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling halbtrocken
91 points
excellent steely wine, drink now but who cares?! buy it! (QPR!!)
White
2005 Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Kabinett
91 points
opposite side of the coin - but not any less for it.
grapefruit and pear, long finish, lazy summer day wine.
grapefruit and pear, long finish, lazy summer day wine.
White - Off-dry
2005 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese
93 points
jackpot! refined wine, loads of minerality, sparkling acidity and the richness of fruit melt into one. very concentrated wine that needs a decade at least. but it will shine! (85grams RS)
White - Off-dry
2005 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Auslese
92 points
dessert wine, richness and acidity akin to a ZH VT - amazing concentration
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Beerenauslese
95 points
if someone would offer you this would you refuse?!
soooooo young...teeth pain... cant stop licking the glass...
soooooo young...teeth pain... cant stop licking the glass...
Flight 14 - Gunderloch (7 notes)
White
2005 Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett
89 points
great qpr. simmilar to above but a bit richer middle and softer style
White - Off-dry
2005 Gunderloch Riesling Spätlese Diva
89 points
good concentrated riesling, drink now. nice crisp finish.
White - Off-dry
2004 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese ***
90 points
long dry finish. will age well. not my cup of riesling
White - Off-dry
2004 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese
92 points
long juicy finish, apples and pears dance along with minerality and serious concentration...needs a lot of time.
(ps just looked up David S' note in WA... as on many wine - i tottally agree!!)
(ps just looked up David S' note in WA... as on many wine - i tottally agree!!)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Beerenauslese
93 points
YUM, syropy and a bit heavy but who cares?
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
94 points
raisins, prunes, botrytis and concentration (almoust like essencia)
very rich wine with a ton of RS.
very rich wine with a ton of RS.
Flight 15 - Pfeffingen & Von Buhl (8 notes)
White - Off-dry
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Pfeffingen Ungsteiner Herrenberg Scheurebe Spätlese
91 points
spicy animal! acidity keeps this very refreshing! YUM!
White - Off-dry
2005 Weingut Pfeffingen Ungsteiner Honigsäckel Gewürztraminer Spätlese
91 points
A BUY - exotic and unique wine at a great price, very rich nose (sweet) with a light body that is balanced with some RS, yummy!
White
2005 Reichsrat Von Buhl Riesling Spätlese trocken
90 points
excelent perfumed nose, great balance but a bitter note on the finish mars it for me.
White - Off-dry
2005 Reichsrat Von Buhl Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Spätlese
90 points
power-first wine, serious backbone and concentration but needs time to settle down. may merit a much higher rating but very hard now.
White - Off-dry
2005 Reichsrat Von Buhl Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Scheurebe Auslese
91 points
YUM! sheu nose! rich wine, long grabing finish,. YUMMY!
Closing
Thabks again to David and Rudi. and Gentelmen start your walets!