So was it Abtsberg or Herrenberg that you had at St. John? I can’t read the site name in your bottle shot.
It was Herrenberg. I am still thinking about the wine. It was really beautiful. I have had so many great bottles from the Ruwer from the 60s and early 70s. When you find them with a light almost clear color they are always great.
4 Likes
I think it was on another wine board where someone described Rebholz as the “Protestant wine of the Pfalz”, which sums up the style nicely. You get the sunny ripeness of the Pfalz, but in a more restrained and elegant package. I very much appreciate the style.
(And of course they are also high-quality performers, early to biodynamic/organic/rigorous vineyard work, etc etc. As a side note, they would proclaim themselves a ‘natural’ wine producer, but they also have no problem with locally-cultivated yeast, so the wines are not the ‘wild’ side of natural, and remarkably consistent from year to year)
Kastanienbusch is the big boy, the prestige wine of the area. Steep slopes, high elevation and red slate are fairly unique for the Pfalz. It’s the most structured and powerful and can take/requires the most age. But is also the classiest wine, very elegant, and can be appreciated young in certain vintages. If you get the right window!
Im Sonnenschein is limestone, and as the name indicates, it gets sunny. An easier more approachable wine than Kastanienbusch, although still within the elegant Rebholz stylistic paradigm. Ganz Horn is a sub-parcel of Im Sonnenschein that is more mineral and delicate than the straight Sonnenschein.
I enjoy all three and am happy to buy them for different reasons. But pricing in the US is an issue. It’s always been a mystery to me, because in Germany, their wines are priced similarly to their peers (currently 60-70euros for GGs). But then when they get to the US, the Rebholz wines have doubled in price and sell for $150, while other producers go up a bit and sell for less than $100.
I raised this point with the US importer at Rieslingfeier last year, but did not get a satisfactory response!
Schäwer is a new GG addition to their lineup, I don’t think I’ve tasted it.
4 Likes
Thanks. I wasn’t sure if you read my earlier comment. That’s why I asked you again. Yes, a clear (greenish) color is a good indicator.
2021 Vollenweider Wolfer
Just a classic, clean village riesling. I will note that this is much more balanced that some of the other wines I’ve tried at this same “level.” Very good afternoon sipper.
1 Like
Thank you for all of this. Great info! All four I asked about are avail. via pre-arrival at WHWC at what appears to be decent pricing, given pricing comments in this thread.
Yes, I saw those. Those seem like grey market and are what I’ve been happy to pay from other similar US sources.
1 Like
• 2023 Julian Haart JJ Kabinett.
Lemongrass, honey crisp apple, pineapple. Noticeable sweetness but not cloying. Just good honest fun
3 Likes
I always feel obligated to post on Laible wines, since we seem to be among the very few who drink them.
The last of our 2012s of both of these solid QPR performers. As expected, the Klingelberger was more taught and concentrated, the better wine and a real pleasure. But the Achat held its own, even on the soft and blurry side. No heat on these, just very tasty mature Riesling. Laible makes happy wine.
8 Likes
Almost as important, what’s in the skillet?
Finishing up sweet potato quesadillas with caramelized onions and goat cheese.
3 Likes
Have them on my radar from your posts. They didn’t deliver to the Netherlands - sooner or later I’ll go to German with enough notice to order and have the wines deliver.
1 Like
Nice. I’ve been a fan for many years, but I don’t drink them as often as I could/should, and I don’t see them being widely available in the US.
2024 Julien Schaal Rosacker Alsace Grand Cru “Calcaire”.
A young 2024, however I had wanted to try this producer for some time. I managed to track down some bottles last weekend at a somewhat local shop, and they didn’t break the bank.
Light and dancing across the palate, with well-balanced acidity to the lemon and honeysuckle, and with no bitterness to close.
I’ll try the remainder tonight, but I’m happy to have this on hand in the cellar, and will try some more of his range.
4 Likes
Very nice bottle of 2012 Alzinger Steinertal Riesling Smaragd. Evolved into a lovely state of maturity, with a good core fruit and a lovely layered evolved texture. It is not the most mineral/acidic vintage but still has the delicate light Alzinger touch. Also, surprisingly, it is even more delicious, vibrant and integrated on day 2 (which is rare for me).
4 Likes
Why the note about 2014? Was it a poor vintage for Germany?
Outside of the Pfalz I find it very uneven, even from excellent producers.
2 Likes
