Keller‘s Riesling Prestige extra brut Sekt 2020 is being released just in time for XMas
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Based on when you went I assume you were tasting Forge’s 2021s? It was a really tough vintage and I found myself disliking almost every 2021 FLX riesling that i’ve had, with the one exception being Kemmeter. Haven’t had any Ravines 2021s though. In agreement about the Argetsinger riesling… tried a 2017 vintage over the summer and it was in a really nice spot.
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Think that’s right on timing?
Nice on '17. Weirdly, I like the Argetsinger right out the gate, but prefer most my Riesling with age. 
Not to say, I haven’t enjoyed it older, just have seemed to have less need to wait.
I love them. Had an '84 not that long ago. Wine geeks wine.
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Visited Thörle last year and bought these bottles after a tremendous tasting that left me infatuated. I’ve also ordered a bunch of the Rieslings and Spatburgunders via our friend LF, but have not opened any in a while. Because there’s always other stuff…
But nice to check in again and get reacquainted.
2022 Thörle Hölle Riesling Trocken was easy. Ripe round golden and juicy, but absolutely saturated with minerals and not at all thick, with a nice refreshing freshness on the finish. It’s an interesting expression of Rheinhessen generosity while retaining a juicy energetic profile and a respectable 12.5% alcohol. This is more facile than the Probstey, which is perhaps better suited to in-depth study. But facile has its place…
From the beginning, the 2022 Thörle Probstey Riesling Trocken shows the older vines, smaller berries, greater intensity. More intense flavors than the Hölle, but still with great cut and clarity. Not as ‘juicy’ as the Hölle, this shows more precision, more verve. But, despite all that density and tension, it still has the Rheinhessen generosity and is far from backwards or difficult. Plus it’s also only 12.5%. Happy that I ended up buying more Probstey than Hölle, but it’s all about what you want for the occasion…
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This producer has never done it for me. DM me if you want a few with age at release prices.
last night with friends:
2015 JJ Prum - GH Kabinett (up on two wheels, screeching around the corner. Migosh is this drinking awesome right now!)
2019 Kuhling-Gillot - “Olberg” GG (it was fine, but not enough acidity to cut-through the oily mouthfeel; more minerals than fruit)
2019 Von Schubert / Grunhaus - “Herrenberg” Kabinett (as before, and still kicking myself for buying only a case; sooooo good!)
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If you have checked in on Spätburgunder please post on that thread! I’m especially interested in the 2018-2020 SVDs. That being said, Thörle Spätburgunder tends to be a little bigger than I prefer, but I ain’t selling them. 
Not recently, and I don’t think I’ve ever tasted the single vineyard Spätburgunders from those vintages. I tasted 21 at the winery last year, and very much loved a bottle of 21 Probstey Spätburgunder at home last winter. Just got a bunch of 21 Hölle and Probstey Spätburgunder delivered, and will be opening over the next weeks.
I agree the style is bigger than what I usually prefer. My initial exposure was to their entry level Spätburgunder from the vintages you list, and I didn’t particularly love them. But there is good structure and definition and ‘freshness’ in the Hölle and Probstey. Right now, I’m happy to have them as alternatives to the rest of my less voluptuous wines. (And frankly, you can tell how my palate skews when these are some of the plumper wines I buy)
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Arrived in the Mosel after an epic 15.5 hour drive via Gauditabois, Rogerie and Selosse.
This eased the pain. Hopefully there’s no more to come overnight.
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But was it good? Did you like it?
I know some people complain about KR being oxidized, although it hasn’t bothered me. I very much like the style, even though I’m often skeptical of oxidative wines and can’t wrap my palate around JB Becker. But the KR wines have more body and a lot more going on.
It wasn’t impressive. 14% alcohol with light to medium body made it more than a little top heavy.
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Ouch. Sounds like a tough combo.
I don’t recall seeing many Karthauserhof notes of late. As you can see it was a massive leaker. Any more and it would have been a gusher. Fill was still fine. I had it in storage where they wrapped it in plastic wrap. Cork was elevated about 1/16". Slid down easily when I went in with the screw but then caught some grip and needed some tug to get it out. Cork looked fine.
Had some stink for the first 10-15 minutes and still had some submerged CO2. Kind of on the plump side for a kabi but no complaints. Tasty wine that’s lost most of its sweet sensation. Depends how you like 'em as to how mature it is. For my taste it’s in a nice zone. Good for at least another five years. Yum!
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1959 Karthauserhof Feinste Auslese was, when consumed in early 2000s, and remains, likely the most remarkable and delicious wine I have ever had. Although 1978 Monfortino and good bottles of 1985 Jamet come close. I had randomly wandered into a shop in Bernkastel in 2001 and asked if they had anything “special”. They did. I brought it home to the US. We drank it. It was amazing, so fresh and young and not young at the same time.
We also had a visit to Karthauserhof on that trip and the proprietor at the time had about 25 wines lined up for us to try. He was quite proud of his Trockens. We liked the “fruchtig” wines better. It was still a good time.
Same trip, we had a great visit at Schloss Saarstein and also at Von Volxem in their old building/castle with Roman and Gernot. What ever happened with Saarstein? We really liked their wines.
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Saarstein is still imported by Valckenberg.
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Saarstein still produces wine and recently acquired a prime parcel in Bockstein. Egon Müller, Jr., even did a part of his wine apprenticeship at Saarstein in 2022.
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Opened one of last year’s auction wines: 1994 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese **. This was really surprising, balanced and light on its feet. Only snagged one, my first from this producer. Hopefully I’ll win a few more of this year’s offering.
TN: Wow this is a beauty. Vibrant and vibrating nose of orange, lemon, mango and honeyed peach. Palate delightfully mid weight or less, with mouth watering honeyed lemon and apple. Wonderful complexity and balance, combines density with unusual lightness for an Auslese. Oh my.
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