Which bottle from my cellar would you choose?

WINE TALK
1

wine-savvy friends who love aged riesling arrive mid-week and are staying a my house. We are dining at the Red Hen (which has a nice wine list) and I want to take a mature (or rather semi-mature) for us to enjoy with the following spring dishes that I think we are likely to order:

SPRING PEA HUMMUS
Garlic, Lemon, Ricotta Salata, Pea Shoots, Basil, Grilled Bread

RAMP CROSTINI
Liuzzi Stracciatella, Grilled Ramps, Pistachio, Lemon

Spring Pea Spaghetti
Pea Cremosa, Pancetta, Pea Shoots, Pecorino Romano

Squid Ink Linguini
Calamari, Fresno Chili, Garlic, Ginger, White Wine, Lemon, Pecorino Romano

Campanelle Primavera
Ramps, Spring Onion, Lemon, Asparagus, Sunflower Seeds, Pecorino Romano

Here’s what I’ve earmarked as potentials - we are likely to consume only one bottles but I will take a bachup. My plan is to allow them to choose but I will (with your help) narrow the selection to five.
Which of these should make the final cut?

2011 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal
2007 Nikolaihof Riesling Reserve Steiner Hund
1990 Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek
1997 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune
1995 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune
2001 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile 375ème Anniversaire
1995 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile

(and now for something completely different):1998 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rotenberg Vendange Tardive

2002 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl
2002 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl
2008 Domaine Huet Demi-Sec Le Mont
2008 Domaine Huet Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu
2002 Domaine Huet Demi-Sec Clos du Bourg

German riesling probably not the way to go but I do have some good ones.

1990 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg GKA
1990 JJ PrĂĽm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese
1998 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Auslese #11 Or #10
1998 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spätlese Auction
2001 JJ. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Auslese **
2001 JJ Christoffel Erben Ăśrziger WĂĽrzgarten Auslese * ( or ** or ***)
2001 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese #6
2001 JJ PrĂĽm Graacher Himmelreich Auslese
2001 JJ PrĂĽm Wehlener Sonnenuhr GKA
2001 JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese Auction

Dinner isn’t for a few days so nominate your two suggestions. And thanks in advance.

2

Hmm…based on the menu items I would go with the Alzinger or the Nikolaihof Steiner Hund.

1 Like
3

1995 CFE I say

4

Maureen,

Steiner Hund with dinner and perhaps the 98 auction Spatlese from Schaefer for afterwards with cheese?

Thanks,

Zachary

5

Another vote for '95 CFE.
And a vote for either 2001 JJ Graach or JJ Wehlen Spat.

6

I agree with David’s choices, but if you have a good Gruner I think that would work even better with the menu.

7

I would also opt for the 95 CFE. Maybe the 95 Hune if you want to get fancy.

One side note- 1998 Schaefer Spatlese Auction is really good, but starting to pass peak. It will still need a good 4-5 hour decant to show its best, but I would suggest drinking that up soon. As Zachary suggests- it is a good candidate for dessert or a cheese course. It is on the decadent and sweet side for a Schaefer Spatlese.

1 Like
8

Agree with David, had a Alzinger Loibenberg recently that was very fine.

9

My pick would be the '97 Hune with the Steiner Hund as the backup. If you expanding that to a list of five to choose from, I’d include the Schaeffer auction ZH Windsbuhl Riesling (you listed it twice…was the Gewurz also an option?) and the Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auction Spatlese.

You have a lot of “right” answers so I hope you land on a winner.
Cheers,
fred

10

one of these I think

11

No gruner in the cellar, but I agree it would be a good choice.

12

Oops. Meant to list 1998 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl Vendange Tardive. No gewurz.

13

Thanks for the info, Tom. I should let you look at all of my German riesling holdins (don’t worry, not as vast as David’s) to tell me what else to drink up.

14

I’m not really in a position to pick two, but I do feel comfortable suggesting your gut instinct to avoid the Germans you listed is the right one — they’re all too sweet.