2005 Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbacher Schlossberg Riesling Erstes Gewächs

JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  9/13/2006, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Schloss Reinhartshausen, Erbach Schlossberg Riesling Erstes Gewächs Rheingau White) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/5/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Erbacher Schloss REINHARTSHAUSEN) Erbacher Dear Friends, If the monopole aspect of Romanee Conti interests you, this grand old dame of the Rheingau is finally back and it took a vintage like 2005 to prove that terroir will win out in the end. Since the 1300’s, Schloss Reinhartshausen has produced wine from the vineyards around the Rhine and the prize in their arsenal is the 10+ acre Erbacher Schlossberg monopole. Never given much thought in the US, this wine has the pedigree reserved for Germany’s most famous wines. This wine is so allocated that only a few dozen cases are slated for the US (none for retail) and that’s one of the major reasons it has never received much fanfare - nobody has a bottle. I’ve been trying to obtain an allocation of this for the past decade and I finally received the call tonight - we have some. The Erbacher Schlossberg “Erstes Gewachs (First Growth)” is completely handpicked berry by berry – it is vinified like a garage project and the vineyard is treated with kid gloves. The wine itself is always made in a high Spatlese must weight (or even low Auslese) but with sweetness levels that are closer to low-level Kabinett. This high extract/low sugar ratio can be quite appealing and in a vintage like 2005 where the must weights and extract ratios were at an all-time high it played right into the hands of the Erbacher Schlossberg. The wine is a combination of so many elements that make German Riesling so special - citrus and stone, white skinned fruit and the exotic piquant elements of the Rheingau without the heaviness of true Auslese. The sweetness can be barely perceptible but the impact is high - very high. If you are into wine that few will ever see in this country, this wine (from a great vintage) should be on your short list. The quantities are so small, that I'll leave it at that. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY - 25 cases for the entire US 2005 Schloss Reinhartshausen “Erbacher Schlossberg” Erstes Gewachs (Grand Cru) (this is not the regular Spatlese or Auslese - this is the Grand Cru level wine above both of them) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Germ3722