Is anyone hip to this '10 Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling "von blauem Schiefer reserve"?"

WINE TALK
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This wine is blowing my mind AGAIN, and I’m wondering if it’s just exploiting a genetic predisposition in my makeup, or if it’s as utterly bad-assed as I think it is. Apparently, auslese level ripeness, but fermented dry (13%abv).

Aromatically, it’s bumpin’ like J-Lo, and the palate is delivering massive concentration with unbelievable elegance and vibrancy. The finish, I…I, just can’t be left alone with; I keep going back for another taste. It’s mid-afternoon and I gotta pick the kid up in a bit; how can I stop this before the bottle is gone?

This is just…wow. Apricot juice and skin; clear, fast-flowing river over big, jagged rocks; sweet-tart lime and honeycomb…I am seriously head-over-heels for this Mosel riesling from the Weygandt-Metzler portfolio, and I will probably redouble my cellar commitment on this wine because I’m dying to see it age, and because I’m going to drink it all before the summer is out if I don’t.

Can you smell that? Oh, I wish you could!

Somewhere in the $30 range retail. I don’t write TNs online much anymore, but this has me thinking in acronyms, like WOTS, WOTY, WOTC…okay, maybe “century” is indefensible, but Best Wine of First Half of the Year (BWFHY) is totally accurate. [cheers.gif]

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Chaad: Heyman-Löwenstein has an impressive 2010 collection. The “von blauem Schiefer” (from blue slate) is from a vineyard area between two sites in Kobern, a village upstream from Winningen.

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Thank you for adding that info, Lars!

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shhhh! keep quiet about this wine!

seriously, though, you’re right on about this riesling. I’ve enjoyed the 08 and 09 of von blauen schiefer reserve, but the 2010 is even better. i love your description. this wine is so delicious right now, but i’m hoping to hold onto some for a while.

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Isaac: Yes, Heymann-Löwenstein remains relatively unknown in the States. By the way, the Reserve designation was only for the extreme 2010 vintage.

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aha, gotcha. just looking at my notes now, and yes, the 2010 is the only “reserve” designation. I’ve also been a fan of HL’s Schieferterrassen and Winninger Röttgen wines, altough I haven’t picked up any 2010s yet. Lars, have you tried any 2010s from Heymann?

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Isaac: Yes, I did taste the 2010s with Reinhard Löwenstein at the end of January. His Schieferterrassen is an excellent wine, and Röttgen is one of the best sites in the Mosel Valley.

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thanks. i was figuring they’d be excellent. i’ve really gotta pick up some asap. cheers!

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I’ve recently posted an in-depth profile on Heymann-Löwenstein on my site. It’s behind the paywall, but some pages require no subscription, so that readers can browse around and eventually sign up. http://www.larscarlberg.com/