Important Update From the Founder

Riesling rendezvous

Bern, Switzerland

Tasted May 30, 2015 by Eric with 632 views

Introduction

What could be better than a large assemblage of different styles of Riesling? How about stopping in the middle for a great bunch of Veal Schnitzel?

We started with numerous dry examples before moving to three flights of increasing pradikat. In those off-dry flights we compared the same three producers each time with very clear stylistic differences.

Flight 1 - SWITZERLAND & ALSACE (3 notes)

We started with a couple of Swiss Rieslings and an Alsacian.

White

2007 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

I am having a hard time finding the nose. Faint aromatics with a hint of white peach. Mmm, steel and citrus on the palate. A hint of honey. Textbook dry Alsatian. Really lovely, and it opened up well across two days.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White - Off-dry

2005 Gantenbein Riesling Auslese Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Graubünden, Fläsch

Apple cider with an overripe note (sort of like the apple mash an hour after the cider is pressed). Some smokiness. Paul notes "Mirabelle honey." Mmm, this is quite full and sweet on palate entry but very dry and acid on the finish. It is interesting but not well integrated -- the acid and sugar are very distinct.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2009 Defayes & Crettenand Riesling Switzerland, Valais, Leytron

Heavy flint nose, very reduced. Lemon and stone on a clean and very wound up palate. I didn't notice the alcohol at first, but once others (Gilberto) pointed it out, it was noticeable and detracted from the wine a bit.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 2 - GERMAN TROCKEN GG (3 notes)

And now a GG flight to get us rolling.

White

2012 von Winning Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Großes Gewächs Germany, Pfalz

Mmm, spicy with subtle smoke and gentle tangerine, lemon and citric notes. Wow, this has great acid and minerality, really majestic and clean. Loaded with lemon curd. This is painfully young however.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2011 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Großes Gewächs Germany, Nahe

flawed

Woof, this screams of massive sulphur to the point of rotten eggs. I tried to get underneath that, and there was some tangerine and nice acid. However, for me this bottle was just flawed. (I did try to follow it for a few days, and the sulphur dissipated a little bit but remained very prominent.)

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2012 Weingut Keller Hubacker Riesling Großes Gewächs Germany, Rheinhessen

Some subtle sulphur and a little honey. Wow this is a huge wine, packed and stacked. Very citrusy with a sort of tropical "Juicy Fruit" gum aspect. Quite salty on the finish.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - MORE GERMAN TROCKEN (2 notes)

White

2011 Siener Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Schiefer S Riesling Trocken Germany, Pfalz

Some CO2 prickle, salty. This is the purely savory side of Riesling, and I quite like it.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2009 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Großes Gewächs Germany, Nahe

A big, explosive, fruity nose. Very savory, salty and mineral with a tangerine finish.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - EVEN MORE TROCKEN (3 notes)

White

2008 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Großes Gewächs Germany, Nahe

Wow, this is stunning. Really gorgeous with tangerine, perfect salt, mineral and savory interplay.Quite peppery and just dances with incredible citrus.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White - Off-dry

2008 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Superior Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Those nose is weird, yeasty with a whiff of caramel, and seems a little off. However the palate is a whole different story, juicy, silky and creamy with a touch of residual sugar.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2008 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Spätlese trocken Germany, Pfalz

Extremely dry and savory.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 5 - KABINETT (3 notes)

White

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #7 Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Wow, just perfect! Delicate, feminine, precise, sweet and sour.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Lots of sulphur and spritz. Really mineral and aggressively youthful. A true Kabinett now that all of the baby fat is gone. It comes across as austere and masculine next to the much more delicate Willi Schaefer.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White

2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett Germany, Nahe

Much heavier than the other wines, a difficult comparison. An alluring body. Hmm, is there a touch of TCA holding this back? (Conclusion after a couple of days was NO.)

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 6 - SPÄTLESE (3 notes)

White - Off-dry

2005 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #7 Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Mmm, silky, easygoing, feminine, juicy, and beautifully balanced. Saftig.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White - Off-dry

2002 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Heavy sulphur, but despite that this is lovely, salty and powerful.

2 people found this helpful Comment

White - Off-dry

2004 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese Germany, Nahe

flawed

Brutally corked.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 7 - AUSLESE (3 notes)

White - Off-dry

2006 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #11 Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Honey and clove, a somewhat "heavy" nose. Just a hint of diesel. Delightful green apple palate.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White - Off-dry

1998 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

Woof, really heavy sulphur. Some diesel and petrol are followed by mint. The palate, WOW the palate. Screaming with mouthwatering green apple, smoky, salty and mineral. This is still a baby, but it is BRILLIANT, vibrant, wow!!!

2 people found this helpful Comment

White - Off-dry

2003 Dönnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Germany, Nahe

Ahh, spicy with some evergreeen, A revelation on the palate, delicate and mineral, noble and poised, utterly mouthwatering.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 8 - DESSERT (1 note)

White

1959 Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach Eltviller Taubenberg Riesling Cabinet Germany, Rheingau

My notes here are nearly non-existent. Mushroom and funk on the nose, still some life on the palate.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Riesling rendezvous

Bern, Switzerland

Introduction

Flight 1 - SWITZERLAND & ALSACE (3 notes)

Flight 2 - GERMAN TROCKEN GG (3 notes)

Flight 3 - MORE GERMAN TROCKEN (2 notes)

Flight 4 - EVEN MORE TROCKEN (3 notes)

Flight 5 - KABINETT (3 notes)

Flight 6 - SPÄTLESE (3 notes)

Flight 7 - AUSLESE (3 notes)

Flight 8 - DESSERT (1 note)

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