TN: 1998 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile (France, Alsace)

1998 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile - France, Alsace (1/9/2017)
Owing to fears of oxidation, I have been rapidly drinking up my stash of the 1998 CFE. This bottle was absolutely on point, with all the bones showing, a mineral bath in a glass. Peach and floral aromatics and a subtle richness on the palate kept the wine from being completely austere, but what was ultimately the focus, and completely satisfying in its own right, was that skeleton of what makes Riesling, and CFE. There’s only one bottle left, and to hell with it, I’ll risk the demons and see what happens after another long sleep.

Posted from CellarTracker

What’s your percentage of oxidized CFE and which vintages? I’ve still never had one oxidized, across a few cases from 1989-2000s.

I have not had as many bad experiences as other folks have, but then I owned very little 1997 and 1999, and have opened very few 2000s. With 1998 CFE I have had a negative hit rate of about 33%.

01, both regular FE and FE 375eme, in half bottle and full bottle formats, often oxidized, the half bottles more often.

Luckily I have no half bottles of the '01 wines.

I have had better luck with 2001 - maybe 10-20%.

I’m 3 for 3 with the 01…all AMAZING showings! Knock knock knock on wood with the 3 I have left!

In 750 I’ve had several oxidized 96 CFEs (and a couple of oxidized '96 CSH) and couple borderline '01 regular CFE(but more that were showing young).
But I have well over 50% oxidized in 375 ml (mostly 2000 and 2001)

My 375 in 750 have all been excellent

2001s in 375s. At least 60% oxidized rate.

I’ve not opened my 2001 750s. Perhaps, I should.

I’ll be opening a 2002 very soon. Don’t recall having had oxidized 2002.

edited to add: all vintages noted above are CFEs.

All my 2002s have been great. It’s my favorite vintage of CFE since the 1990.

I’m about 5 for 5 on the '01 CFE 375th Anniversary. Haven’t had a bad bottle (knock wood).

Sounds like the bulk of the issues have been 375ml bottles.

FWIW I’ve had more issues with CSH than with FE

Do you guys continue to buy knowing the oxidation risk? If so, why?

Things appear to have gotten better from 2002 forward.

I’ve had two 2004s oxidized (750s). One perfect, the next dreck…one perfect…the next dreck.

I thought the 2004 was crap from day one. Worst CFE in my memory.

Really??? Had an amazing mag of 04 back in May…killed the 09 CsH.

I have not had the 2004 in a few years, but every time I had it from release to a couple of years later it had an unpleasant green note.

FWIW, over the last 8 years or so…only two bottles of CFE oxidized, as follows:

96: 4/5 good
97: 4/5 good
98: 4/4 good
99: 3/3 good

with the '96, I noted that two more of them seemed oxidized at first …but with lots of aeration came around…with honeyed, dryish , very lean wines…especially in 2014 and 2015.

I noted that a CSH '96 was superb in 12/08…I had one ready for this year;s NYeve, but…never got around to it. In summer 2013 I noted that the 1998 CSH was very lean/acidic and austere (maybe too lean) and rather than improving with aeration, it got leaner; I much preferred the '98 CFE tasted the same day.