11/25/2016 - mattdev wrote:

Hand imported this back from the Mosel during a trip a few years back. Been waiting for the right moment to open it with some fellow Riesling lovers and thanksgiving turned out to be the right time.

The color was crazy. So dark and caramel-amber and it just slowly drizzled down the side of the glass.

Nose was pungent of honey, Meyer lemon, fresh grapefruit zest, and just the slightest note of apple pie. Nearly no petrol, but that was definitely a good thing as I feel it would've detracted. Little bit of other dried fruits like apricot as well.

Front of the palate hits you with some light acidity like a nine volt battery that's nearly dead. After that, the whole thing coats your entire palate - like raw honey, grapefruit, vanilla, and orange zest. So many rich and sweet flavors that pair so well with the citrus fruits. A bit of stonefruit at the end of the palate, which lingers and lingers.

Absolutely love this producer and this is definitely one of their cooler bottling. The family is great as well and if you're ever in the Mosel, I'd recommend tasting there and chatting them up.

2/2/2014 - mattdev wrote:

2 Bottles, both corked. Worried the 3rd will be the same.

2/9/2013 - mattdev Likes this wine:

A: Stinky dirt, wet gravel, almost a slight fishy smell (but not in an offensive way). Slight over-extraction, heat, and overly ripe fruit coming in near the end.

P: Very fruit forward up front with a nice acidity, elegant mid palate showcasing more of those wet stones, and finishes dry with a dusty linger that lasts just a moment. Not bad, but definitely needs some time to open up. Quite tight at this point.

12/19/2012 - mattdev wrote:

The nose on this is unbelievable. Oranges and meyer lemons covered in dirty slate, with almost the faintest hint of the dirty Burgundian aroma. I've never smelled anything like that in a German wine.

The first thing that hits on the palate is the insane acidity. It's like a 9 volt battery that just stings the tip of your tongue. Normally I find this type of acidity too much, but what happens next is magic. That burst of acidity morphs into a slight minerality rounded out by grapefruit, blood oranges and a hint of caramelized lemon rind.

The finish is amazing. Not cloying at all, but the acidity leaves you slightly salivating like a fresh grapefruit does. I've never experienced anything like this before. I'll definitely be buying more.

4/3/2012 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Big honey and ripe lemon rind on the nose with a little bit of petrol. It's very creamy on the nose. A bit sherrylike at first, but that blows off quickly (which was a massive surprise). The palate is exceptionally rich and slightly mineral, but balanced out by a burst of acidity. Vanilla, lemon cream pie, and key limes are the dominant players, but an incredible sherry/cognac flavor just lingers as the rest of the flavors wash away. I haven't taken a sip in about 5 minutes and I'm still getting that incredible linger. Incredible stuff.

I did try and eat this with risotto, but it was a very offensive pairing. Drink this bad boy on its own.

3/18/2012 - mattdev wrote:

While the wine itself pours very light, it is anything but. Raspberries and crushed lime surround the nose with the lightest hints of tulips and flowers dance in the background. The second whiff brings even more stone, almost like dried asphalt after a long, 90 degree day.

The palate is a whirlwind. It's like a 9 bolt battery on the tip of my tongue. I think if it weren't such high acidity, I would have scored this wine a bit higher but I just can't take my focus off of it. Slight hints of dirt and fresh berries linger in the background while some must hangs around as I swallow, but all of this is shadowed by the ridiculous amounts of battery-like acidity assaulting my mouth.

It might be good with something rich, where the acidity will help cut through it. Maybe chocolate ganache or the like.

3/15/2012 - mattdev Likes this wine:

It's interesting to see what an Argentinean Malbec does after 6 years. This stuff is insanely easy to drink. It almost has a merlot-like quality, with a huge fruity nose reminescent of blackberries and ultra dark cherries, and a very faint hint of spice and alcohol. The palate is very refreshing with raspberries, brandied cherries and light smoke. The tannins are VERY soft and the acidity is still quite prominent. Pretty awesome for $12.

2/26/2012 - mattdev wrote:

Straight drank. Smells very clean and crisp, like a granny smith apple with some lemon zest. VERY refreshing until you drink it. Nice minerality up front with a bit of grapefruit and lemon rind on the mid palate. The main issue is that it finishes WAY too hot. Too hard to drink because of that.

2/18/2012 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Grapefruits. Lots of grapefruits. A little lemon balm on the nose and a hint of chemicals, but it blows off fairly quickly. The acidity just dominates your tongue followed up by a decent amount of sweetness. Meyer lemons, green apples and tons of limey minerality. It's a bit green at the moment but this will come around in a few years. Sit on it.

2/10/2012 - mattdev wrote:

Stanky pinot dust with a little bit of wet, rocky forest. Very green, flat structure and with pleasant acidity. Very short palate.

2/10/2012 - mattdev wrote:

Slight farty stank on the nose, but flat otherwise. Sharp acidic front palate that mellows rapidly into a thin body reminiscent of chlorinated water and a hint of underlying salmon berries. I don't know if this one will come back around.

2/10/2012 - mattdev wrote:

Delicate earth and dusty strawberries atop a slab of slate. Astringent palate with a nice acidic balance, ripe raspeberries, and dry soil. Slight chemical bitterness on the finish. Give it some time.

12/11/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Second day open. Aromas of similar to ripe blackberries and raspberries engulf the nostrils, with a hint of earth coming through towards the end. A smell of this wine is similar to walking through a wild berry patch on the morning after a rainy evening. The palate reeks of elegance with under-ripened raspberries and delicate silk swarming the tongue. Rounded out by a nice acidity and a slightly tannic bite, I think this wine will keep on giving for several years.

10/15/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Open 24 hours and boy, has this wine really come around in just a day. On the nose, the deepest, ripest blackberries, raspberries roll around in a molasses-soaked soil with lots of intensely wet concrete. The palate is like I picked up a rock after a huge storm and just started sucking on it. More of those ripe fruits come in on the midpalate with a swarm of acidity flowing across your tongue as you swallow and a bit of tannins following shortly thereafter. Sit on this wine awhile, but if you give it some air it is drinking really well right now.

9/15/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Tons of cedar and popsicle sticks are the dominant scents, with some beautiful citrus fruit faintly coming through. The aroma conjures up awesome childhood images of the ice cream man bringing you a creamsicle on a hot summer day. Vanilla ice cream, rhubarb and key limes swarm the palate and is rounded out by a beautiful acidity. Slightly sulfuric, but should blow off in a few years.

9/15/2011 - mattdev wrote:

A bit of a headachy smell, kind of like the smell inside of a doctors office. There are some hints of lemon balm and cognac, but very very light and very much masked by the aforementioned "headache" scent. The palate is fairly with some cream puff flavors coming through, but overall pretty meh. Lots of acidity but not a whole lot else.

9/15/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Beautiful dust and earth on the nose with hints of raspberry notes. Flavor is a bit green with hints of raspberry busy and lots of sour cherries. Lovely acidity and moderate tannins. Give this 3-4 years.

10/3/2011 - mattdev wrote:

The first thing I noticed when smelling this wine is that it doesn't have that typical funk/mustyness that I would expect from a WV Pinot. It has a somewhat sweet/artificial smell, very much resembling one of those strawberry hard candies that you typically find in a jar at the front of a restaurant. A bit of cough syrup in there as well. The taste is suprisingly acidic but very low (almost non-existent) tannins. Not a lot going on on the palate except for the slightest hint of sour cherries, but that's about it. It has a very odd Robitussin finish that is actually somewhat offensive. Easy to drink, but not particularily interesting.

9/30/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Almost hints of blue raspberries and slight black licorice and molasses. This stuff is a SERIOUS fruit bomb on the nose. Flavor has a beautiful acidity and tannins that compliment the blackberry, raspberry and boysenberry notes. You can totally see that this wine is an old world wine and really showcases the "terroir" of Greece.

9/30/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Classic Oregon funk on the nose with tons of wet leaves and dusty wood. Palate is rich of bright fruits and beautiful acidity. Almost a bit of sour cherry and raspberry coming through. This stood up EXTREMELY well.

9/30/2011 - mattdev wrote:

A bit rough. Very gamey on the nose with the lightest hints of bright fruits underneath the gamey moose. Somewhat chemically and hot on the palate with a bit of chemicals and astringency. A bit rought.

9/26/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Second day after being open. It has that typical saucey Napa cab look to it. Quite new world smelling on the nose, lots of wet rocks and minerality with some chemical and raspberries. The flavor is surprisingly delicate for a napa cab with tons of ripe, fresh berries and tons (but not annoyingly so) of tannins that coat the entire inside of your mouth.

9/16/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Lovely bouquet of caramel, cognac and cinnamon apples. Lots of lemon rinds, honeycrisp apples and hints of grapefruit on the palate. Beautiful balance of acidity and sweetness.

8/1/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Green apples, lemon and buttery vanilla is the dominant nose on this wine. Quite a rich and creamy palate with some notes of fresh grass and ripe pears. Extremely luscious, mild acidity.

8/1/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Intense apricot and kumquat nose with lots of wet rocks/minerality. Very mushroom-like palate with slight vegetal hints. Bright acidity and mild sweetness round out this lovely wine.

8/1/2011 - mattdev Does not like this wine:

Very light and floral. on the nose. Some tulips and roses come through with the most feint hints of citrus fruits. Somewhat of a dry/flat palate. Drink early.

8/1/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Same chemical smell that I've been getting out of the 2010 Chehalem rieslings. Lots of limes, granny smith apples and orange peel on the nose. Very acidic and appley on the palate.

8/1/2011 - mattdev wrote:

A little chemical smelling up front, but blows off pretty quickly. Lots of earthy tones, waterfalls and huge lemon aromas. Ever so slightly sweet palate with vanilla apples and intense acidity. This is going to be fantastic in a couple of years.

8/1/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Fruit forward, lots of raspberries cherries anda little bit of currents. Hints of dust and wet forest on the nose. Quite tannic on the palate with raspberries, hints of vanilla and a lovely acidity.

6/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Kind of a flat nose. A bit of dust, soil, and maybe a bit of wood stain at the end. Raspberry is the prominent flavor, but some slight forest qualities. Very tannic and acidic. A bit messy overall.

6/22/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

I should first say that this wine has a special place in my heart, as it is THE wine that got me into wine in the first place. I haven't had it in 4 years, and I think it's better now than ever.

On the nose, there are tons of kalamata olives, pepper, blackberries and a ton of cedar. Even the slightest hint of coffee/cocoa come through on a second whiff.

The taste is very much like chocolate covered cherries, caramel, and a slight herbal note. Tons of plums and pluots shine through toward the finish. The wine is beautifully balanced, medium tannins and a beautiful acidic mouthfeel that isn't too cloying or harsh. Even after you swallow, the slightest hints of banana sticks with you for a few minutes afterward.

6/22/2011 - mattdev Likes this wine:

Smell is extremely delicate, but lots of lemon creamsicles, and that flavor of salted caramel, just without the salt. Very light palate with hints of cognac, butterscotch and a light acidity. Very faint hints of apricot linger after the swallow. It's a beautiful wine, but it needs quite awhile to open up.

6/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Pepper is the dominant scent with hints of raspberries. The palate is a bit flat, but I do get quite a bit of grains of paradise. Overpowering tannins and a bit unstructured overall.

6/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

This reeks of apple pie, lemongrass and a hint of orange zest. There is a huge minerality on the first taste, almost like 1000 little pellets hitting the front of your tongue. Lots of cobbler, vanilla, and cream. This keeps lingering, and lingering, and lingering...

6/21/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Open 12 hours. Lots of caramel dipped apples on the nose with a slight paint thinner note. Hints of vanilla and cream on a second sniff.

The flavor is extremely dominated by tart, citrusy fruits, like lemons and limes. Lots of granny smith apples and the slightest hint of vanilla. The feeling it leaves in your mouth is almost like that of a warhead because of the sharp acidity.

6/21/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Smell is quite reminiscent of an Oregon pinot, with lots of fresh soil and musty qualities. Ripe plums and cherries come through on a second whiff, but it's almost as if they're covered in dirt. The taste is way too beefy for me, almost like biting into a hamburger. There are hints of dark cherries in there, but they're just completely masked by beef. Medium acidity and soft tannins finish this so-so wine off.

11/20/2010 - mattdev wrote:

Lots of cherry on the nose, with almost chocolate-like qualities. Rich mid palate with a clean, fruity finish. Not much of a linger other than a very slight burning sensation.

11/20/2010 - mattdev wrote:

Bright fruits on the nose, predominantly raspberries. Light and fruity. A bit sweet on the palate with sharp tannins and very dry. Lots of fresh berries, hints of oak.

6/19/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Opened 1 day: Typical Oregon must on the nose with some wet logs coming through as well. Almost a metallic quality coming through on subsequent smells, which isn't something I'd expect. The flavor is very fruit forward with raspberries, cherries, blackberries and blueberries dominating the palate, and eventually evolving into a soil-like shadow of the original fruit. Strong but not uncomfortable acidity and extremely soft tannins.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Paint thinner on the nose with some backdoor notes of caramel. Very apple butter hits you immediately and slowly turns into a honey-like character. Hints of orange peel finish this decadent desert wine.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Fresh fields of cranberries hit you on the first whiff with wild blackberries coming through towarad the end Cherry pie dominates the tastebuds complimented by a beautiful foresty note. Finishes slightly sweet and incredibly balanced.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Rich aroma of wood stain and vanilla, almost similar to some type of furniture store. The palate has a lot of maillard reactions going on and a bit of a diacetyl note, similar to werthers candy. Low acidity, a bit watery.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Pungent oaky smell really dominates the nose on this wine with not much else going on. The flavor is big vanilla and butter with refreshing watermelon on the finish. Would have preferred a bit more acidity.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

This wine punches you straight in the nose with vanilla beans and toffee. The palate reflects these aromas quite a bit with a lot of butterscotch and granny smith apples, like one of those caramel dipped apples that you get at the fair. The granny smiths give it a tight, tart finish to balance things out. Lovely.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Green apple and ripe pears dominate the nose with a bit of peaches as well. Caramel and apricots dominate the palate with a light acidity to round out the fuller flavors.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Green apples and paint thinner dominate the nose. Some shortbread and white cake frosting dominate the palate in this extremely effervescent brut. A bit too solventy for my tastes, but a great effort.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Smells of bergamot and blackberry arouse your nose with some slight whispers of pumpkin pie. Blueberries and honey engulf the palate, almost like a blueberry pie. Very soft and luscious wine.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Rich earthy smell with lots of dark and sour cherries. Extremely clean with flavors of pine and subtle dark fruits. Wonderful balance and extremely pleasant tannic structure.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Minerality on the front with some rich soil and forest qualities coming through. Bone dry palate is the most noticeable quality on the palate with raspberries and vanilla coming through toward the end. Way too hot of a finish.

1/22/2011 - mattdev wrote:

Floral aroma with that earthy Oregon must and big fruits on the nose. Raspberries, cranberries, and dark chocolate covered cherries hit at the end. The taste has slight hints of concrete with vanilla and some cherry. Very astringent and tannic with a moderate acidity.