This blew me away. the 16 years of cellaring have done good things to this outstanding Alsatian Riesling. It still seems youthful, with some initial spritz, fine body, excellent ripeness, a touch of sweetness and just enough balancing acidity. But it has also integrated and smoothed out. (I had it with some superb Chinese take-out, including baked crab, fried shrimp, and fried calamari…).
A great and truly wonderful expression of Riesling! In taste, unlike any German Riesling, (which is in keeping with the great expressiveness and terroir expression of that grape, like Pinot Noir in Burgundy!). There is more fruitiness, maybe like ripe pears and peaches.
I don’t know if any other Alsatian Rieslings are like this in flavor, as I haven’t had any in too long a time! But I noticed a couple half bottles of Zind-Humbrecht Rangen de Thann Riesling in the cellar near this bottle, so I am looking forward to trying that excellent rendition of the grape too! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers")
Hi Paul, thank you for the note. I am all for aging Alsace Rieslings and FE probably one of the best for aging. Had a 2000 St Hune last week which was on song. Cheers Mike
love FE. Haven’t had 98 but have had more than my share of 00 and 01.
This wasn’t even in my inventory! So I guess it’s my only bottle. I should have bought more (if they were available…).
When it’s on the '98 CFE is a great wine. Sadly there have been more than a fair % of off bottles. I have been relatively lucky with only one premoxed out of 5 or 6 opened, but there are numerous reports.
Don’t expect the Zind humbrechts to taste like Trimbach. Very different styles.
I think '98 is/was a great riesling vintage in Alsace…and it seemed so in barrel and later, too. It is still going strong at Barmes-Buecher, Boxler and Trimbach, based on samplings over the last year or so.
FWIW, last July in Maine:
Trimbach Clos Ste. Hune 1998: very minerally nose, with lots of peppermint…very dry and lean (maybe a bit too lean?)…decent concentration, though overall a lean impression. A different wine from the CFE. CFE is more hedonistic, though no less class. Ultimately, a little too acidic for the fruit level, as mostly acidity is left on the finish, with some lime-like fruit. Don’t think this is a matter of more aging, as the wine had plenty of time to aerate, and the fruit decreased rather than came out the next day.
Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile 1998: fuller, more viscous and deeper fruit. At first seemed much more so than the CSH. Mellowed into an apricot, dry though fruity, slightly tropical riesling of great class and good length. Good fruit on the finish. Still could benefit from a couple more years in the cellar, IMO.