Virtual Rieslings: Typical Wili Schaefer, you get a fairly classical German riesling frame, but with a little more fruit to dazzle you. This was my #3 riesling among a really stellar group.
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Virtual Riesling Tasting (Home): Light gold color. Wines were opened and poured into vessels between 4-4:30pm, poured into glasses around 6:30pm; drank a glass over 3 hours. Very tropical, pineapple, apple, tangerine, passion fruit, zesty minerality, petrol, youthfully boisterous, full bodied and also very plush in the mouth. It wad better on the next night. 93 day one and 93+ to 94pts day two.
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All wines prepared as follows: Opened between 4:00 and 4:30, poured into jars for transport, poured into glasses and tasted starting at 6:30. The following wines were tasted:
2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4: What can I say, if nothing else, this tasting confirmed that slightly sweet, well balanced Rieslings are right in my wheelhouse. Like the Prum and Donnhoff, this wine strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, and between fruit and minerality.
Nose shows stone fruit (predominantly peach), some petrol and flint with a hint of tropical fruit (pineapple). The palate follows suit, but saline replaces the petrol. Finish is medium. A young wine that drinks well now, and will likely improve with additional bottle age. Excellent QPR here too. 93-94 points. Group's and my number 2 wine (tied with Donnhoff).
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Excellent. Tons of peach and honey nose. Dry peach, apple, lemon on the palate with medium acidity. Very long tart tingling honeyed finish. Probably too young. Next one in a few years.
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Luftet på karaffel i 2 timer, og fortsatt veldig beskjeden på duft. I munn er den utrolig ren med medium pluss konsentrasjon. En litt lett auslese stilmessig. Aprikosdominert frukt med innslag av mango ananas og appelsin i munn. Saftig og bløt frukt med et lite honningpreg. Integrert syre, flott balanse. Litt brå utgang for nivået. En lett utgave av auslese med lite botrytis. Savner noe intensitet og lengde. Drukket før og overskygget av Schaefers 2010 ausleser.
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A gorgeous wine. The fruit is perfectly ripe, like biting into a dripping peach. The acidity is bracing and balances the richness of the wine to a perfect point. Just amazing despite being so young.
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Chicago ♥ Willi Schaefer (Chicago, IL): #04-13, 7% abv. Well, the reports of the shutdown of 2012 riesling have been much exaggerated. We were all very surprised by how open this bottle was (that said, I've found that Himmelreich tends to be a bit more accessible young than Domprobst, as far as Schaefer is concerned). The nose has lovely white floral notes, and is expansive and light. The baby-fat is really prominent now, with a lot of juicy white peach notes on the palate. A slightly thick texture that does come off a bit fat, but there's ample acidity on the honeyed finish to keep things light.
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Continuing with the string of outstanding 2012 bottles from Willi Schaefer, the Himmelreich Auslese has depth of flavor, brightness to spare, and an elegance that stands out in the genre of modern Auslese. This is not some massive botrytis bomb, nor is it oversized/overwrought in any other way. It is pure, drinkable, stony, fruity, vibrant Auslese that refreshes the palate and the intellect. Great wine that fits perfectly with the rest of the range from this estate.
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This is outrageously good. An array of fresh Riesling fruit, florality, vivid slatey minerality and gentle honeyed notes, but what's really striking here is the sense of purity and sheer electricity. There's no perceptible botrytis, it's an Auslese that's about drinkability rather than showy sweetness, and the acidity here makes this feel amazingly light and vibrant on the palate, every sip almost crackling as if a livewire was passed through this. Stunning Riesling - thanks Jay.
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Chalk and white flowers on the nose. Crisp with lots of lime and acid. Really lively: gets the salivary glands going. Really razor-like: sharp but good. Enters with stones and chalk - very juicy and acidic. Lots of orange, apple, peach and lime. I'm salivating just writing up this note. White gold: pure and beautiful. This is drinking the best of the Auslese right now. 17/20 with 17.5/20 potential.
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5/19/2021 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 92 Points
A lighter styled Auslese, tons of fruit but not overly sweet, crystalline, pure, refreshing with lovely body. Very good.
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7/30/2020 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Virtual Rieslings: Typical Wili Schaefer, you get a fairly classical German riesling frame, but with a little more fruit to dazzle you. This was my #3 riesling among a really stellar group.
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7/30/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Virtual Riesling Tasting (Home): Light gold color. Wines were opened and poured into vessels between 4-4:30pm, poured into glasses around 6:30pm; drank a glass over 3 hours. Very tropical, pineapple, apple, tangerine, passion fruit, zesty minerality, petrol, youthfully boisterous, full bodied and also very plush in the mouth. It wad better on the next night. 93 day one and 93+ to 94pts day two.
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7/30/2020 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Zooming in on Riveting Rieslings: Zooming in on Riveting Rieslings
All wines prepared as follows: Opened between 4:00 and 4:30, poured into jars for transport, poured into glasses and tasted starting at 6:30. The following wines were tasted:
1995 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek
2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
2007 Dönnhoff Felsentürmchen Riesling Spätlese
2007 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4
2016 Nigl Riesling 1OTW Privat Pellingen
1997 Taylor Fladgate Porto (Dessert wine)
Groups top 3:
WOTN - 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
2nd - (Tie) 2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4
2nd - (Tie) 2007 Dönnhoff Felsentürmchen Riesling Spätlese
My Order:
WOTN - 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
2nd - (Tie) 2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4
2nd - (Tie) 2007 Dönnhoff Felsentürmchen Riesling Spätlese
4th - 1995 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek
5th - (Tie) 2007 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
5th - (Tie) 2016 Nigl Riesling 1OTW Privat Pellingen
2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4: What can I say, if nothing else, this tasting confirmed that slightly sweet, well balanced Rieslings are right in my wheelhouse. Like the Prum and Donnhoff, this wine strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, and between fruit and minerality.
Nose shows stone fruit (predominantly peach), some petrol and flint with a hint of tropical fruit (pineapple). The palate follows suit, but saline replaces the petrol. Finish is medium. A young wine that drinks well now, and will likely improve with additional bottle age. Excellent QPR here too. 93-94 points. Group's and my number 2 wine (tied with Donnhoff).
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8/16/2019 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Tons of peach and honey nose. Dry peach, apple, lemon on the palate with medium acidity. Very long tart tingling honeyed finish. Probably too young. Next one in a few years.
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10/21/2017 - vinkeger wrote:
Luftet på karaffel i 2 timer, og fortsatt veldig beskjeden på duft. I munn er den utrolig ren med medium pluss konsentrasjon. En litt lett auslese stilmessig. Aprikosdominert frukt med innslag av mango ananas og appelsin i munn. Saftig og bløt frukt med et lite honningpreg. Integrert syre, flott balanse. Litt brå utgang for nivået. En lett utgave av auslese med lite botrytis. Savner noe intensitet og lengde. Drukket før og overskygget av Schaefers 2010 ausleser.
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7/8/2016 - Rieslingfan wrote:
A gorgeous wine. The fruit is perfectly ripe, like biting into a dripping peach. The acidity is bracing and balances the richness of the wine to a perfect point. Just amazing despite being so young.
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9/13/2015 - WillersC wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, smooth, but perhaps a little soft. Great length and balance.
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4/29/2015 - Sennma wrote: 92 Points
Tropical fruits with a nice tingle on the palate. Good acid/balance, not as heavy as some Auslese. 7.0% ABV
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4/29/2015 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Chicago ♥ Willi Schaefer (Chicago, IL): #04-13, 7% abv. Well, the reports of the shutdown of 2012 riesling have been much exaggerated. We were all very surprised by how open this bottle was (that said, I've found that Himmelreich tends to be a bit more accessible young than Domprobst, as far as Schaefer is concerned). The nose has lovely white floral notes, and is expansive and light. The baby-fat is really prominent now, with a lot of juicy white peach notes on the palate. A slightly thick texture that does come off a bit fat, but there's ample acidity on the honeyed finish to keep things light.
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4/16/2015 - WillersC wrote: 92 Points
Another delicious bottle of this gorgeous wine
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12/14/2014 - WillersC wrote: 92 Points
Really lovely auslese, very fresh and lithe and not heavy. The only problem is that this goes down to easy and before you know it the bottle is empty!
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4/18/2014 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Continuing with the string of outstanding 2012 bottles from Willi Schaefer, the Himmelreich Auslese has depth of flavor, brightness to spare, and an elegance that stands out in the genre of modern Auslese. This is not some massive botrytis bomb, nor is it oversized/overwrought in any other way. It is pure, drinkable, stony, fruity, vibrant Auslese that refreshes the palate and the intellect. Great wine that fits perfectly with the rest of the range from this estate.
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11/13/2013 - salil wrote: 95 Points
This is outrageously good. An array of fresh Riesling fruit, florality, vivid slatey minerality and gentle honeyed notes, but what's really striking here is the sense of purity and sheer electricity. There's no perceptible botrytis, it's an Auslese that's about drinkability rather than showy sweetness, and the acidity here makes this feel amazingly light and vibrant on the palate, every sip almost crackling as if a livewire was passed through this. Stunning Riesling - thanks Jay.
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10/23/2013 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Chalk and white flowers on the nose. Crisp with lots of lime and acid. Really lively: gets the salivary glands going. Really razor-like: sharp but good. Enters with stones and chalk - very juicy and acidic. Lots of orange, apple, peach and lime. I'm salivating just writing up this note. White gold: pure and beautiful. This is drinking the best of the Auslese right now. 17/20 with 17.5/20 potential.
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