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Dee Vine 2003 Germans Part I
Dee Vine Wines, San Francisco, CA
Tasted September 11, 2004 by WNissen with 1,392 views
Introduction
The first container of 2003s arrived a little while ago, and after this time to recover, were offered for tasting. I didn't see the usual WLDG suspects, but did meet up with "Chaud-froid" a.k.a. Paul from another forum. But to start, a couple of 2002 auction wines.
Flight 1 - But to start, a couple of 2002 auction wines. (2 notes)
White
2002 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett Auction
$37 at Dee Vine, AP 10-03.
Rich, savory, tart. This is Kabinett? Open, very enjoyable. Very Good+.
Rich, savory, tart. This is Kabinett? Open, very enjoyable. Very Good+.
White - Off-dry
2002 Weingut von Othegraven Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Spätlese Auction
$35 at Dee Vine, AP 10-03.
Closed nose but good palate, a bit of petrol. Juicy finish. Very Good.
Closed nose but good palate, a bit of petrol. Juicy finish. Very Good.
Flight 2 - The 2003s (18 notes)
White - Off-dry
2003 Gerhard Hattenheimer Hassel I Riesling Spätlese
$16, $14 on pre-arrival at Dee Vine, 11%, AP 9-04. This doesn't seem the same weight as the other spätlesen, but it's good. A bit blowsy, but just a bit. Balanced, fruity, a hint of plastic. Good+, actually might be Very Good.
White
2003 Gerhard Hattenheimer Hassel II Riesling Kabinett
$13.50, no pre-arrival discount (what's up with that?), 8.5%. AP 007-04. This is noted on the tasting sheet as "auslese grade taste," and is quite sugary. Not that flavorful in terms of intensity, but pure fruits and, very, very nice. Very Good.
White - Off-dry
2003 Gerhard Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Spätlese Goldkapsel
$15.50, again no pre-arrival discount at Dee Vine, 11.0%. AP 31025-011-04. Hmm. Purple Kool-aid, doesn't seem that rich. Decent food wine. Good+. It's an inexpensive Spätlese Goldkap, but I was hoping for more. This is what happens when you don't attend the barrel sample tasting!
White
2003 Gerhard Al Alba Vinceró Riesling Kabinett trocken
$13.50 at Dee Vine, 13.0%, AP 005-04.
Rainwater and slate nose, taste the same, with maybe a vanilla/oak note underneath. Balanced, doesn't even really taste German, it's more "normal." Very Good.
Rainwater and slate nose, taste the same, with maybe a vanilla/oak note underneath. Balanced, doesn't even really taste German, it's more "normal." Very Good.
White
2003 Josef Rosch Leiwener Klostergarten Riesling Trocken
$12 at Dee Vine, 12.5%, AP 2-04.
Synthetic cork! Austere, stony nose of quartz, and then hot and a little coarse in the mouth. Tasted better than it sounds, Good+.
Synthetic cork! Austere, stony nose of quartz, and then hot and a little coarse in the mouth. Tasted better than it sounds, Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Weingut Knebel Winninger Brückstück Riesling halbtrocken
$15 at Dee Vine, 11.5%, AP 2-04.
This one is really hard to describe. No rating.
This one is really hard to describe. No rating.
White
2003 Josef Rosch Leiwener Klostergarten Riesling Kabinett
$13.50 at Dee Vine, 8.5%, AP 7-04.
Sulphur blows off, but still closed, maybe a little rainwater peeking through. Far softer on the palate than the above, flabby but remains attractive. Good+.
Sulphur blows off, but still closed, maybe a little rainwater peeking through. Far softer on the palate than the above, flabby but remains attractive. Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Gerhard Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett feinherb
$13 at Dee Vine, 13%, AP 006-04.
Lush, floral nose, rich and smooth but hot at the same time. Pretty, and full-bodied. Good+.
Lush, floral nose, rich and smooth but hot at the same time. Pretty, and full-bodied. Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese
$20 at Dee Vine, 8.5%, AP 9-04.
Quiet. Lacks the intensity and density of the Dhroner Hofberger. Closed? Good+.
Quiet. Lacks the intensity and density of the Dhroner Hofberger. Closed? Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Gerhard Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben #10
$16 at Dee Vine, 12%, AP 10-04.
More grass. Is there something in the air? Rocks. Less interesting than the regular. Good+.
More grass. Is there something in the air? Rocks. Less interesting than the regular. Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Weingut Knebel Winninger Röttgen Riesling Auslese
$35/500 mL at Dee Vine, 8%, AP 13-04.
Melon, hand lotion. Honey. Oooooh. No more words! Excellent. My wife is gonna kill me, but I got a bottle.
Melon, hand lotion. Honey. Oooooh. No more words! Excellent. My wife is gonna kill me, but I got a bottle.
White - Off-dry
2003 Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Auslese ***
$42/500mL at Dee Vine, 9%, AP 11-04.
Rich, a little lacking in flavor for my taste. This is ***? I'd rather have the Spätlese. Good+.
Rich, a little lacking in flavor for my taste. This is ***? I'd rather have the Spätlese. Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Weingut Knebel Winninger Röttgen Riesling Spätlese
$19.50 at Dee Vine, 9.0%, AP 11-04.
Fine "red" nose, but just explodes in the mouth. Sweet, just enough acid, flowery. Very Good.
Fine "red" nose, but just explodes in the mouth. Sweet, just enough acid, flowery. Very Good.
White - Off-dry
2003 Weingut Knebel Winninger Röttgen Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben
$28 at Dee Vine, 8.5%, AP 10-04.
Grassy, dry nose paired with <b>sweet</b> full-bodied similar palate. Good+.
Grassy, dry nose paired with <b>sweet</b> full-bodied similar palate. Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Gerhard Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Spätlese #08
$14 at Dee Vine, 12%, AP 8-04.
I would guess Sauvignon Blanc from the nose, and this one tastes seriously dry, a shock after the Winninger Röttgen Spätlese. However, it turns out well and I would love to have this with dinner. Very Good. If I had been smart, I would have gotten this instead of the Goldkap.
I would guess Sauvignon Blanc from the nose, and this one tastes seriously dry, a shock after the Winninger Röttgen Spätlese. However, it turns out well and I would love to have this with dinner. Very Good. If I had been smart, I would have gotten this instead of the Goldkap.
White - Off-dry
2003 Josef Rosch Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Spätlese
$18.50 at Dee Vine, 8.5%, AP 8-04.
Caramel, fruit, spice, another sweetie, oh, the caramel! Delicious. Very Good+. Picked up a couple of these, just so much fun to drink.
Caramel, fruit, spice, another sweetie, oh, the caramel! Delicious. Very Good+. Picked up a couple of these, just so much fun to drink.
White - Off-dry
2003 Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese ***
$22.50/500mL at Dee Vine, 9%, AP 16-04.
Oh my. This has the flavor and stuffing to exceed its shy nose. Bubble gum, unidentifiable smells. Very Good+.
Oh my. This has the flavor and stuffing to exceed its shy nose. Bubble gum, unidentifiable smells. Very Good+.
White - Off-dry
2003 Josef Rosch Leiwener Klostergarten Riesling Auslese
$24.50/500mL at Dee Vine, 9%, AP 11-04.
Honey, less lush than the Winninger Röttgen Auslese, more savory. Still pretty darn good. (forgot to give this a rating).
Honey, less lush than the Winninger Röttgen Auslese, more savory. Still pretty darn good. (forgot to give this a rating).
Flight 3 - Finally, a few club and other selections (3 notes)
White
2001 Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach Steinberger Riesling Kabinett Goldkapsel
$21.50 at Dee Vine, 9%, AP 026-02.
Hard to come down to this. Just off-dry, crisp, solid. Good+.
Hard to come down to this. Just off-dry, crisp, solid. Good+.
Red
1999 York Creek Vineyards Meritage
$45/ 36.75 Dee Vine wine club, 13.5%.
Cassis, earthy. Not quite ripe? Medium bodied. Good.
Cassis, earthy. Not quite ripe? Medium bodied. Good.