March 19, 2014 - Pale yellow color with a green hue. A smoky, savoury and rocky nose of white flowers, honey, grapes and white pepper. Damn! This is one sharp, zesty nose, and at the same time extremely multidimensional. Indeed, there is an endless array of most discreet fruit notes. The palate is very clean, lifted and focused. Absolutely bone dry, and somewhat austere for sure, but impeccably balanced and incredibly precise. Lean, but not thin by any means. Does not strive to please its drinker at all, but almost commands to bring some food to the table. Savoury, sour and very minerally. Sure there are some hints of fruit but who cares? While not nearly as big in terms of size as the Smaragds, this is one intense, complex and refined Grüner. The idea of the classic green apples and white pepper profile does not apply, this is all about its terroir, similar to a Loire SB made with indigenous yeasts. Oh yeah, while I said that his does not try to please I do get a lot of pleasure from it. At 15 € this is a nasty good QPR and really makes up for several disappointments that I've had in the past with other "icon" producers.
December 8, 2012 - Has some cracked pepper and herb notes coupled with stone fruits, juicy limes and paw paw. It has good fruit intensity in the mouth and a nice slate, smoky mineral base. It finishes bone dry.