Just out of curiosity, will the adjoining parcel higher up the slope receive its own designation, or will the grapes be incorporated into Meyer-Nepal and/or Herbert? I know this is perhaps too early to know, and it’s probably ‘splitting hairs’, but I am curious to the Webers’ initial impression of the grapes. I am also aware that it may take a few seasons for the Webers to train the vines and till the soil to their requirements.
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These are great questions. The parcel higher up the slope, which is not shown in that post, might be a separate cask with either a part of Herbert or Meyer Nepal. Depending on the yield, there could be as many as three or four different casks from this section of the hillside. I reckon that it will only be three because of the severe drought conditions. The adjoining parcel (27) will probably be a part of Meyer Nepal. I’ll know more soon.
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Great pic and I too love this cru. With Falkenstein I adore all the off-dry variants (Kabinett, Kabinett feinherb and Spätlese feinherb). So delicious and fascinating to explore the range as it changes with vintage variation.
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FYI for people who may be in the DC area on Oct 7 or might make a special trip to come. Includes some 2020s.
Should be good. I used to go to GWS events in the Philly area, and even ran a New England chapter for several years until my work travel schedule made it logistically impossible.
Miss those gatherings.
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I’m looking forward to it. I have a feeling seating won’t be nearly enough (60 including the Embassy guests).
Drank a WeiKu Trarbacher Schlossberg Kabi last night and was delicious. Fruit is starting to round out and had that lovely WeiKu shiso/verbena note to it. Really been loving the 2020 Kabis.
I have to admit, with the ton of 2019s still on the shelves, I find it hard to buy many 2020s. Am I alone in this?
Porque no los dos
Because I think the 19s are better. 20s are certainly not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but after 19, it’s a step down.
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The 2019s are better. But they’re not necessarily drinking better today. Some producers produced some stunning 2020s that are still worth buying imo. The Lauer 2020 Schoenfels seems to be more inviting than the 2019 right now for example.
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I don’t know. I’ve had several 19s lately and they are drinking fabulously. I know the saying goes that the Lesser vintages are the ones that you drink while you’re waiting for the best vintages to come around. But I think that really applied more in the old days where wines could be so structured and austere that they needed many years to even approach drinkability. With all the sun we’ve been getting lately, even the well structured wines are drinking beautifully early as well as later.
While 2019 for me was much more consistently high-quality, I thought there were lots of producers who produced wines in 2020 that are better than their 2019 equivalent, particularly at the spatlese level. There are a lot of 2020s that I definitely did not want to miss.
Nobody should be unhappy drinking 2019 or 2020 Riesling lol
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I agree with Daniel. These are both extremely good vintages with lots of wines that are worth drinking. I was inspired by this thread to look over the roughly 30 tasting notes I’ve recorded for each vintage. Very similar sets of producers/vineyards, mostly of feinherb/Kabinett/Spätlese crus. I have a few more higher scoring wines from 2019, but plenty of excellent experiences from both vintages. Where I did side by sides of 2019/2020, usually the '19 seemed a bit more deep and intense. But I’m glad I have both.
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I’ve been on a 2020s kick recently as well. '20 AJ Adams Hofberg Kabinett was very good last week and I’m right now enjoying a '20 JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett that is drinking pretty nicely.
Both are light-footed, focused and elegant (though very different – the Hofberg has more pronounced acidity while the Himmelreich’s structure is more seamless). The nose on both seem a little reticent, though both are tasting great.
I got a couple of '20 Wei-Ku’s on deck as well. I’m looking forward to cracking them open.
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I would have totally agreed a month ago but I had a shut down 2020 last week. I still have one more 2020 I have to try before forgetting them until they come back out, and I’m worried it’ll be shut down. If buying today to drink now, I’d try to find older stuff.
Please share your impressions when you do!
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Your Schlossberg note was very encouraging. I got a '20 Wolfer Sonnenlay Kabi in the wine fridge I will crack open.
I had the '20 Wolfer Sonnenlay Kabi today and what struck me was how elegant and white fruited it was. It kind of reminded me of Prum.
The importer says (in a video on their website) the Sonnenlay is the most “Middle Mosel” of the Wei-Ku wines, and I definitely got that while having this wine tonight. Nice acidity that balances the wine so it drinks like its off-dry. But, it’s not as energetic and citrusy as I was expecting. On the other hand, not overripe or tropical either – hits a nice sweet spot.
Also, unlike some of the other '20s I have had, the nose is pretty and open (more petrol/mineral than fruity aromas). This particular wine doesn’t feel like its shutting down yet (but I haven’t had this wine before, so I can’t say for certain).
Very enjoyable: I would imagine a good gateway introduction to this estate’s wine (especially among folks who like Wehlen and Graach wines).
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