Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Tour VDP.GROSSE LAGE 2018 Vol.1
Hotel Atlantic, Hamburg
Tasted January 29, 2018 by fc1910 with 569 views
Introduction
For some years the VDP is showing their Große Gewächse to the public a few months after release again.
This event only travels around to some few mayor german citys.
This monday the tour starts in my hometown Hamburg with the four zones Ahr, Nahe, Rheinhessen and the Pfalz.
For me 2016 is a very classic Riesling vintage full of purity and energetic tension.
Most of the higher class samples will need a lot of time to fully open up.
But I like to recommend to buy from this vintage as much as you can afford.
These wines will surely blossom!
One word about the location. The Atlantic is one of the old famous hotels at the Binnenalster (inner city lake).
But the hall with its high ceiling is bad for conversation. Sometimes you can´t even understand people standing next to you.
A feeling more like a train station!
A nearly five hour mostly Riesling GG marathon!
That much Riesling to taste, that few time!
Flight 1 - Ahr, mostly elegant Spätburgunder (3 notes)
Red
2015 Jean Stodden Dernauer Hardtberg Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
Wow, and wow again, always be surprised when Alexander Stodden himself is pouring the first of his GG in a glass, if you do not know what your are recieving as a wine......, a colour like a teabag, but then this fragrance, indicating all this fine aromas you will find on the palate, and this is the more or less "basic"or call it starter GG, like all of his wines this one is all about finesse and persistence, ending delicious long+, **(**-?), 92+ potential
Red
2015 Jean Stodden Neuenahrer Sonnenberg Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
After the Hardtberg this is an increase of richness, very herbal showing, the pure elegance, fine swallowing, to chew on, ending long+ and promising, **(**-*****?), 93+ potential
Red
2015 Jean Stodden Herrenberg Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
This GG is top of his today shown portfolio, very deep with mineralic hints, finesse pure, stunning persistence, very delicious red and black fruit, highly recommended, **(***?), 95+ potential
2 people found this helpful
Comments (1)
Flight 2 - The Nahe, my top of the heap Rieslings (13 notes)
White
2016 Dönnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Puh, somehow exhausting freshly opened, minerality rules, lemon zest, wait or decant for a long time, no change on the palate since the first tasting in September, (****-?), 91+ potential
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Dönnhoff Dellchen Riesling Großes Gewächs
This time I tasted the Dellchen right at the start and later on with about 3+ hours slow ox on the bottle, freshly opened not showing that much, some delicious ripe fruit, but still restrained, the next try this is nearly silky, like a pasing cat touching you slightly with its fur on the leg, then this is the finesse pure, tasty ripe red peaches, some sweetness of fruit in the very long aftertaste, one of the best samples from the Dellchen I have ever tasted, *(***+ -?), 93+ potential
White
2016 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs
As always top of the heap of all dry wines from Dönnhoff, more restrained than the two other GG-samples from this estate, but wow, this electric minerality is above all, very zesty with passion fruit, very saline long+ aftertaste, but needs time, a lot of time, next try in maybe 5 years, but I think this Hermannshöhle should be cellared at least a decade, (*****), 95+ potential
4 people found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Großes Gewächs
This time a more herbal showing, compared with a lot of other young samples this one is quiet open, tasty fruit, would wait some 3+ years, but this a very good straight forward showing, ending tasty long, **(**), 91+potential
White
2016 Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
This is the counterpart from E-S for the Hermannshöhle and the Felseneck, high toned saline, very much yellow fruit driven, zesty , way too young though, energetic very long finish, wait at least 5+ years, *(****), 94- 95+ potential
2 people found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Kruger-Rumpf Im Pitterberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Good showing of yellow stonefruit and saline minerality, moderate weight, but not the same level as the top of the Nahe, *(**+ -?), 89+ potential
White
2016 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Großes Gewächs
This one is more energetic, very herbal showing today, good density, long+, far better showing than in last September, *(***), 90+ potential
White
2016 Kruger-Rumpf Binger Scharlachberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Today restrained above all on the palate, some tasty stonefruit on the nose, but palate is not showing much, a little lean but still long, (***-?), 88+ potential
White
2016 Joh. Bapt. Schāfer Dorsheimer Pittermännchen Riesling Großes Gewächs
Somehow a little restrined showing today, very herbal, slate driven, therefore zesty, moderate bodied, but deepness of mineralic hints, ending saline long+, needs time, lets say about 5+ years before the next try, *(***+), 92+ potential
White
2016 Joh. Bapt. Schāfer Goldloch Riesling Großes Gewächs
More open than the Pittermännchen, fruit driven, ripe tasty stonefruit, some peaches, Mango, good weight on the midpalate, a delicious Riesling crowd pleaser, **(**), 91+ potential
update from 01/30/18: the estate owner donated me a nearly full bottle of this, with one day slow ox a superb energetic and very balanced rich long+ Riesling GG, highly recommended! 92+ potential
update from 01/30/18: the estate owner donated me a nearly full bottle of this, with one day slow ox a superb energetic and very balanced rich long+ Riesling GG, highly recommended! 92+ potential
White
2016 Schäfer-Fröhlich Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Großes Gewächs
Not that open as the Frühlingsplätzchen from E-S, still some hints of the spontaneous fermentation, crispy, fresh, dense, very long, wait for some 3+ years, *(***-?), 91+ potential
White
2016 Schäfer-Fröhlich Stromberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Today this one is flashing me, too! That pure saline energy, straight foreward, superb richness of stonefruit, it is all about tension, ending long+, great showing today, will evolve to one of the best from this vintage, *(***-*****), 93+ potential
White
2016 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Großes Gewächs
And now: the stunner of this vintage, unbelievable full of tension, saline energy, deep like the atlantic ocean, again I am speechless, this persistence while swallowing, lasting for minutes on the palate after getting down the throat, best Riesling GG of today, for sure! Highly recommended, buy, buy, buy! *(****+), 98+ potential
6 people found this helpful
Comments (5)
Flight 3 - Pfalz, Gott erhalts! (36 notes)
White
2012 Reichsrat Von Buhl Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
Reichsrat von Buhl is showing a wide range of wines, this one is the most mature one, some petrol, matury of fruit, ending with a whiff of sweetness of fruit long, **(*+), 90+ potential
White
2013 Reichsrat Von Buhl Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
First vintage of the new team, still a little taut, saline minerality, moderate weight, long+, **(*+ -?), 91+ potential
White
2014 Reichsrat Von Buhl Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
THis vintage has a very tight showing, zesty, more yellow fruit, moderate body, long+, *(**+ -?), 92+ potential
White
2015 Reichsrat Von Buhl Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Hofstück Riesling Großes Gewächs
This is the best sample for me from von Buhl today, rich in fruit, stunning energetic, delicious stonefruit, ending promising very long, fot the next decade+, **(**-*****), 94+ potential
White
2016 Reichsrat Von Buhl Deidesheimer Kieselberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Very filigree showing, moderate weight, some saline hints, still restrained, needs a lot more time, *(***), 91+ potential
White
2016 A. Christmann Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Hofstück Riesling Großes Gewächs
Fine fruit, very rich and tasty, moderate bodied, ending long with a whiff of sweet yellow fruit, **(*+ -?), 90+ potential
White
2016 A. Christmann Deidesheimer Langenmorgen Riesling Großes Gewächs
Again an quite open GG, rich in tasty stonefruit, elegant and moderate bodied, ending long with a lively acidity, **(*+), 90+ potential
White
2016 A. Christmann Gimmeldinger Meerspinne im Mandelgarten Riesling Großes Gewächs
This one is showing more density than the two before tasted samples, minerality shines through, but the foreground is the delicious ripe peach fruit, long+ and will benefit from at least 3+ years further cellaring, **(**), 92+ potential
White
2016 A. Christmann Konigsbacher Idig Riesling Großes Gewächs
Far better showing than in last September, a little more opened up, but clearly now indicating the whole class of this vineyard, stunning energetic, rich in peach fruit, but all covered by elegance and deep finesse, long+ aftertaste, will need a lot of more time to fully blossom up, *(****), 94- 95+ potential
Red
2013 Knipser Kirschgarten Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
Now some time on the bottle but still too roasty for me, I really do not like this kind of winemaking, coffee, all covering the fruit, maybe this will change, but......, long finish, (***- ?)
Red
2013 Knipser Dirmsteiner Mandelpfad Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
More elegance than the Kirschgarten, but same problem for me, too much toasted oak, long+, (***- ?)
Red
2013 Knipser Grosskarlbacher Burgweg Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
Next vineyard, same problem, to much MADE for me, maybe this is only not my style, but hey this is just my honest opinion, long+, (***-?)
White
2016 Philipp Kuhn Laumersheimer Kirschgarten Pinot Blanc Großes Gewächs
My first try of this Weißburgunder, fine, filligree, floral with some white fruit, good+ length, needs some more time, at least 3+ years, *(**+ -?), 90+ potential
White
2016 Knipser Steinbuckel Riesling Großes Gewächs
Still restrained showing, fresh, lemon and some passion fruit, long+, too young, will benefit from further cellaring, *(**+ -?), 90+ potential
White
2016 Philipp Kuhn Zeller Schwarzer Herrgott Riesling Großes Gewächs
Wow again, zesty, chalky, high tensioned, one for me! Long+ aftertaste, needs a lot more time, *(***-?), 92+ potential
White
2016 Philipp Kuhn Saumagen Riesling Großes Gewächs
This is the wild one in Kuhns portfolio, spicy, a wild herbal touch, good density, fullbodied, energetic, long+, will benefit from far further cellaring, **(**- ?), 92+ potential
White
2016 Philipp Kuhn Laumersheimer Kirschgarten Riesling Großes Gewächs
The most complete wine from Kuhn, silky swallowing, enormous density, powerful on the midpalate, elgant rich stonefruit, a very fine Riesling, ending very long, **(**+ -?), 93+ potential
White
2016 Georg Mosbacher Deidesheimer Kieselberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
I have to admit: since a long time not having tasted this estate,cause it WAS somehow a bit mediocre, now changing my mind, back on the track, fine melting, really tasty on the palate, structured, an long elegant stonefruit appearance, *(**+ -), 90+ potential
White
2016 Georg Mosbacher Forster Freundstück Riesling Großes Gewächs
Wow, very balanced, herbal, spicy, more on the mineralic side of Riesling, midbodied elegant and really creamy, ending long with a lively saline acidity, too young and subdued, wait for 5+ years*(***-?), 92+ potential
White
2016 Georg Mosbacher Forster Pechstein Riesling Großes Gewächs
Another very suddued showing, all componenets only indicated, very spicy on the palate, searching for harmony, elegant swallowing, ending long saline demanding, needs at least 3, better 5+ years in the cellar, (****- ?), 93+ potential
White
2016 Georg Mosbacher Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
As I usually bought this one years ago, I now have to testify: Great stuff! Starting very fresh, apples, stonefruit, a lot of flintstone mineralic, really deep on the midpalate, ending very energetic and demanding, will improve over the next decade, *(***- ?), 93+ potential
White
2015 Georg Mosbacher Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
Glad to notice that this Weingut is showing some older samples of their GG, as usual the 2015 is packed with ripe fruit, concentrated, rich, but all very good balanced by the supporting acidity, with some bottle age a delicious creamy appearance, WOW, impressive! Ending with a saline long+ finish, **(**+), 93+ potential
White
2013 Georg Mosbacher Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
At last, I tried their oldest today sample, surprisingly good+, not showing the weight of the 15 sample or the superb electrc fressness of 16, but still one from the really better GGs, full of tension, midbodied, ending long with a still demanding acidity, **(*-****), 91+ potential
White
2016 Weingut Pfeffingen Ungsteiner Herrenberg Weissburgunder Großes Gewächs
Again a very stunning appearance, starting floral, white and yellow fruit on the nose, a realy cool climate P blanc, all about finesse and harmony, ending long+ mineralic,
update: 01/30/18: at the end of the presentation the owner donated me a more than half filled bottle, took this one home and.........., really great stuff the day after, paired a fine filet of scottish salmon, it is just like playing a perfect food ping-pong! Highly recommended, and overall a great QPR, a bottel sold for absurd low 20€, with a long decant drink from now on, **(**-?), 92+ potential
update: 01/30/18: at the end of the presentation the owner donated me a more than half filled bottle, took this one home and.........., really great stuff the day after, paired a fine filet of scottish salmon, it is just like playing a perfect food ping-pong! Highly recommended, and overall a great QPR, a bottel sold for absurd low 20€, with a long decant drink from now on, **(**-?), 92+ potential
White
2016 Weingut Pfeffingen Ungsteiner Weilberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
As always the more fruit driven one from Pfeffingen, showing some beginning harmony that young, really tasty, demanding, superb balanced, ending long and delicious, give this one at least 3- 5+ years, *(***- ?), 92+ potential
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Weingut Pfeffingen Ungsteiner Herrenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Intense chalk licking from the Pfalz, this one is a young energetic mineralic driven great Riesling, not that balanced , no real harmony, all components wild, waiting for some mature, light to midbodied, deep chalky precise minerality, ending electric long+, needs the most time of all showed samples from Pfeffingen, give this one at least 5+ years, *(***-?), 92+ potential
White
2016 Karl Schaefer Dürkheimer Michelsberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Very fresh and demanding appearance, zesty, lemon, passion fruit, , way too young, needs time to get balanced, (***-?), 89+ potential
White
2016 Karl Schaefer Ungsteiner Herrenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
More restrained showing than the Pfeffingen Herrenberg, lacking some of the superb minerality at the moment, maybe at the moment a really deep sleeper......, this one is showing only slightly chalky aromas now, needs a lot of time, (***+-?), 90+ potential
White
2015 Karl Schaefer Dürkheimer Michelsberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Again a nearly perfect showing that young from the 2015 vintage, very dense, rich, deep and delicious, showing ripe stonefruit paired with supporting limy aromas, balanced and quiet fullbodied, long+, **(**), 92+ potential
White
2013 Weingut Karl Schäfer Herrenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Like some other estates they are showing a more mature GG, very yellow fruit driven, for me still lacking the harmony, long, *(**- ?), 88+ potential
White
2016 Dr. Wehrheim Birkweiler Mandelberg Weissburgunder Großes Gewächs
Tasted this vintage for the first time, very filligree, all about elegance and finesse, way too young, slightly floral, hidden white and yellow fruit, long+, (****-?), 91+ potential
White
2016 Dr. Wehrheim Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Riesling Großes Gewächs
This one is superb creamy, all about harmony, tight, dense and deep at the moment, still the handbrake on, mid- to fullbodied, ending delicious long+ with a supporting acidity, *(***-?), 91+potential
White
2016 von Winning Deidesheimer Grainhübel Riesling Großes Gewächs
Before I start to rewiew their four presentated samples one longer remark:
this for Germany very big estate (estimated more than 60 hectares) is an example for a chance of style, they show "only" their midclass GG, lacking their 3 top GGs.
All Rieslings are fermented in barrels, this leads to a very creamy harmonic and young animating drinkable style, mostly tasty from now on.
Millions of euros for a great marketing and a fine cellar equipping.
I just ask myself? Is this what Riesling is all about?
You have to decide it on your own!
Very creamy appearance, quiet delicious with a tasty stonefruit, long, **(*-?)
this for Germany very big estate (estimated more than 60 hectares) is an example for a chance of style, they show "only" their midclass GG, lacking their 3 top GGs.
All Rieslings are fermented in barrels, this leads to a very creamy harmonic and young animating drinkable style, mostly tasty from now on.
Millions of euros for a great marketing and a fine cellar equipping.
I just ask myself? Is this what Riesling is all about?
You have to decide it on your own!
Very creamy appearance, quiet delicious with a tasty stonefruit, long, **(*-?)
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 von Winning Deidesheimer Kalkofen Riesling Großes Gewächs
superb creamy showing, all components very balanced, filligree, ending with a supporting acidity, **(**)
White
2016 von Winning Deidesheimer Langenmorgen Riesling Großes Gewächs
Increasing quality showing, more dense than the two before shown samples, deep and with a very good young harmony, long+, **(**-?)
White
2016 von Winning Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Großes Gewächs
Top of the heap from the four shown samples, again this one is all about harmony and Riesling balance, ending tasty long+ with a harmonic supporting saline acidity, **(**+)
Obviously these four wines all are high class Riesling GG, I am a little but only a little disturbed about this for me clearly focused "international" Riesling style, no way this is tasty+, but overall not really for me.........,
and I would have liked to taste one from their high priced samples!
Obviously these four wines all are high class Riesling GG, I am a little but only a little disturbed about this for me clearly focused "international" Riesling style, no way this is tasty+, but overall not really for me.........,
and I would have liked to taste one from their high priced samples!
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Flight 4 - Rheinhessen, the biggest wine zone (12 notes)
White
2016 Wittmann Westhofener Aulerde Riesling Großes Gewächs
Not this impressive showing from last September, a little lean today, yellow fruit, restrained, but will be first GG from Wittmann to fully open up, long finish, *(**- ?), 89+ potential
White
2016 Wittmann Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs
As the Aulerde today very restrained showing, chalky minerality but all components a little subdued, indicating class, long+ aftertaste, *(***+?), 92+ potential
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Wittmann Westhofener Morstein Riesling Großes Gewächs
As always the best showing from Wittmann, high tensioned Riesling, the pure finesse, fine salinity, energetic+ finish, wait at least for 5+ years, *(****), 94+ potential
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier Kirchenstück Riesling Großes Gewächs
A young but quiet open appearance, very fresh, yellow fruit, midbodied, ending long with a supporting acidity, **(*+), 90+ potential
White
2016 Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier Am Schwarzen Herrgott Riesling Großes Gewächs
Wow, again this vineyard is showing its chalky heart, enormous mineralic tension, deep and lightbodied dancing on the palate, way too young, needs at least 5+ years more bottle age, *(***-?), 92+ potential
Red
2015 Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier Kirchenstück Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs
This is not for me, too much toasted barrel covering the fruit, maybe it will turn out to a balanced Spätburgunder but today you never know, sone cherry though, good weight, long, (**-***?)
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Kühling-Gillot Ölberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Fine elegant melting on the palate, way too young, therefore a little restrained, lightbodied with a long aftertaste, *(**-?), 88+ potential
White
2016 Kühling-Gillot Hipping Riesling Großes Gewächs
Fine mineralic nose, this one is all about minerality, Riesling tension, fine and elegant, saline long finish, *(**+ -?), 90+ potential
White
2016 Kühling-Gillot Pettenthal Riesling Großes Gewächs
WOW, this impressive mineralic nose, indicating all you want from a Riesling, superb limy aromas, midbodied, really deep, quiet harmonic though, ending high voltage electric high tentioned very long, way too young but one of the real classic Riesling samples, give this one at least 5+ more years, *(***-*****), 94+ potential
White
2016 Wagner-Stempel Binger Scharlachberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
A new GG from W-S, the vineyard is showing a very zesty lemon nose, fine swallowing, lightbodied, tight, ending long+, way too young still, much more restrained than the first time last September in Berlin, *(**+ -?), 91+ potential
White
2016 Wagner-Stempel Siefersheimer Höllberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
A very focused and energetic sample, light to midbodied, it is all about crispy and herbal minerality, long+, give this one 3+ up to 5 years in your cellar, *(**-****), 91+ potential
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2016 Wagner-Stempel Siefersheimer Heerkretz Riesling Großes Gewächs
The most mineralic driven sample from W-S, flintstone stone licking, persistence on the palate all the way, does not need a full body to show its very high class, deep minerality, sharp as a knife, ending with this mineralic precision long+, give this one at least 5+ years in the bottle, *(***-*****), 94+ potential
Closing
Exhausted from this wine marathon I went to my favourite steak house, estancia steaks, to sip a fine Pils to clean the palate and enjoy an fine medium rare Entrecote!