Availability:
Super Premium - $40 plus
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- 94
- 94
2017 Heymann-Lowenstein Rottgen Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinOther Reviews....
The 2017 Röttgen displays a white-golden color with a citrus-yellow shimmer. The nose is deep and flinty, with perfectly ripe, precise stone fruit intermixed with crunchy slate aromas. Highly elegant and beautifully balanced, this is an almost creamy-textured Röttgen with great finesse and elegance. The finish is lush and stimulatingly salty, provided with very fine tannins and a lovely grip with very fine bitters. Very long, intense and fresh. One of the classics of Hermann-Löwenstein. Tasted during the preview of the GG wines in Wiesbaden in August 2018.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate #239 (Nov 2018)Still rather funky on the nose from wild ferment and long lees contact, this has plenty of pineapple and lemon zest on the palate. It may start out quite creamy, but then it turns firm and seriously mineral on the long finish.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com - 2021 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese Feinherb (Palm)Mosel, GERMANY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenClosure: Cork
The Weber family of Hofgut Falkenstein have been making ultra-traditional Rieslings in the Saar district of the Mosel region since the mid-eighties; there they farm about 9 hectares in and around the villages of Niedermennig and Krettnach. Erich, the family winzer (winegrower in german) works alongside his middle son Johannes, who has joined him full-time in the vineyards and cellar in recent years. Ever since there has been more of a focus on Rieslings with residual sugar. The emphasis on their work is in the vineyard, where no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are employed and cover crops are grown to encourage biodiversity and, when necessary, competition with the vines for water.
Through a straightforward approach to winemaking the Weber craft light, distinctive and racy Rieslings, with well-integrated acidity from low yields and old vines, and bottled traditionally by the cask.Other Reviews....
The 2021er Niedermennig Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese Feinherb Palm (the reference to this internal cask name is provided in small print on the label after the AP number) comes from different small parcels on the western side of the vineyard and was fermented down to off-dry levels of residual sugar (27 g/l). It offers a superb nose of mirabelle, herbs, white peach, and spices. The wine proves stunningly racy yet creamy on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of wet stone, herbs, anise, peach, and smoky elements. The finish is absolutely stunning and persistent. Drink 2029-2041.
95 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 96
- 99
- 97
2018 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel - Museum ReleaseMosel, GERMANY$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 7.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Gold Capsule) is very clear, intense and concentrated on the precise and succulent nose that reveals clear and super precise stone fruit intermixed with chervil, tea and very fine slate aromas. Round and highly finessed on the palate, this is a sweet but very subtle, finessed and salty WSU with a piquant and highly stimulating finish. Fabulous. 375-milliliter bottles. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
97 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2020)Heady and head-spinningly diverse floral perfume, nut pastes and pit fruit preserves inform the nose and the luscious, glossy, creamy, delicate palate of this beauty. Nougat and quince jelly are the strongest midpalate impressions. Lime zest and fruit pit serve for welcome, enlivening counterpoint on a finish whose vibrancy and exuberance are amazing, especially from a wine of such sheer overall richness and ripeness as well as such creaminess of texture. Sweetness is prominent, but by no means excessive. The Prüms insisted that this wine issued from virtually botrytis-free albeit desiccated fruit.
96 points
David Schildknecht - VinousMaybe I'm amazed! In spite of the density and concentration, this retains the light-footed and filigree character that are typical for this great vineyard site. A cornucopia of dried stone and tropical fruit, but also spices, dried herbs, a whiff of licorice and much else besides. Only just beginning to show what it's made of! Drink or hold.
99 points
jamessuckling.com -
- 90
- 93
2019 Joseph Colin Saint-Aubin En Remilly Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$180. 00Bottle$2160.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkJoseph Colin initially trained at Domaine Marc Colin, working alongside his brother, Pierre-Yves, to make the family wines. In 2016, Joseph decided to create his own Domaine, and, subsequently, inherited just over six hectares of vineyards from his family holdings, representing about nineteen different appellations, to start his exciting new venture. Keeping yields low, Joseph picks on the early side to retain an unmistakable purity and freshness in his wines. He likes the tension and vibrancy in his whites, and feels it is a signature of his output. Purity is a word that Joseph particularly associates with his wines, since he doesn't like heavy handed or reductive and oaky wines, but rather he allows the different terroirs to shine through truly in the glass. The wines display a tense and vibrant profile, championing minerality and finesse yet there is a comforting richness in the mid-palate.
Please note: bottle has minor label scuffing.
Other Reviews....
Wafting from the glass with aromas of honeyed pear, white flowers and yellow orchard fruit, the 2019 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly is medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with an ample core of ripe, concentrated fruit, bight balancing acids and a long, mineral finish. Drink 2021 - 2035.
93 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 2021)The 2019 Saint-Aubin En Remilly 1er Cru offers scents of apple blossom, pear and grapefruit on the nose, touches of flint and chalk. The palate is well balanced with green apple, Conference pear and noticeable saline notes that dominate the Puligny-like finish. Stern, but I can imagine this partnering fruits de mer with style. Drink 2022 - 2030.
90-92 points
Neal Martin - VinousFrom two plots, Remilly itself on the plateau, which does not frost, and Les Cortons below. There was a decent crop in 2019 despite the comparative drought. 13.5%. Clear pale colour, the nose is quite restrained, with massive intensity on the palate, all in white fruit, not excessive, finishes very well.
90-93 points
Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy -
- 90
2019 Joseph Colin Saint-Aubin Les Champlots Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkJoseph Colin initially trained at Domaine Marc Colin, working alongside his brother, Pierre-Yves, to make the family wines. In 2016, Joseph decided to create his own Domaine, and, subsequently, inherited just over six hectares of vineyards from his family holdings, representing about nineteen different appellations, to start his exciting new venture. Keeping yields low, Joseph picks on the early side to retain an unmistakable purity and freshness in his wines. He likes the tension and vibrancy in his whites, and feels it is a signature of his output. Purity is a word that Joseph particularly associates with his wines, since he doesn't like heavy handed or reductive and oaky wines, but rather he allows the different terroirs to shine through truly in the glass. The wines display a tense and vibrant profile, championing minerality and finesse yet there is a comforting richness in the mid-palate.
Please note: bottle has minor label scuffing.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Champlots is the first harvest from young vines, and it has turned out nicely, exhibiting hints of pear, citrus zest, toasted almonds and mint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and charming, it's bright and precise, with a pretty core of fruit. Drink 2020 - 2033.
90 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 2021)The first vintage, having been replanted in 2016 in place of pinot. Four barrels made. Light, clean, attractive. Plenty of energy on the palate, just a little shorter because of the age of the vines, but a really attractive balanced fruit and finish.
89-92 points
Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy - 2020 Joseph Faiveley Meursault Charmes Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$260. 00Bottle$3120.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Cork
Domaine Faiveley was founded in 1825, and while they have been known for producing outstanding quality wines throughout this time, they are widely considered one of the most improved domaines in Burgundy over the last decade. Since taking over from his father Francois, Erwan Faiveley has made a deliberate decision to emphasise freshness and purity of fruit rather than fruit extraction, and at times, excessive use of new oak. This change has resulted in wines with greater refinement and vineyard character expression.
On the border of Puligny-Montrachet, this is a south-east facing plot with a mix of silt and stony soil. The site was once covered with hornbeam trees, 'charmes' in French, hence the name.
- 2022 Keller Limestone (off-dry) RieslingRheinhessen, GERMANY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 9.5%Closure: Cork
It would be no exaggeration to say Weingut Keller consistently produce the finest dry Rieslings in the world, a fact proven year after year since Klaus-Peter Keller took over the reins from his father in 2001. Along with his wife Julia, Klaus-Peter has continued to prioritise the quality of dry wine produced at the estate, and these are now some of the most sought after and collected wines on the planet.
Sourced predominantly from the Hubacker and Kirchspiel 'GG' sites, the limestone presents incredibly concentrated fruit and spice along with a gentle touch of sweetness, Sabre-like acidity brought together in seamless balance.
- 2022 Keller Limestone Riesling KabinettRheinhessen, GERMANY$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 8.5%Closure: Cork
It would be no exaggeration to say Weingut Keller consistently produce the finest dry Rieslings in the world, a fact proven year after year since Klaus-Peter Keller took over the reins from his father in 2001. Along with his wife Julia, Klaus-Peter has continued to prioritise the quality of dry wine produced at the estate, and these are now some of the most sought after and collected wines on the planet.
Other Reviews....
Bottled last week. From vineyards all over Westhofen. A few tiny bubbles of CO2 from the fermentation, which, suggests Felix Keller, ‘Gives another dimension to the wine’. TA 9 g/l, RS 36 g/l.
Bright, intense stony citrus – lemon and lime – but also spring blossom and a hint of green apple. Marked citrus/lime purity with a delicate chalky limestone-induced texture. The stony sensation on the palate makes you think it is drier than it is. Salivating, great tension. Long and pure and stony, almost dry-tasting on the finish. Long, beautifully balanced. Amazing to get a wine like this from a warm, dry year. Drink: 2023-2031.
17/20 points
Julia Harding MW - jancisrobinson.com - 2022 Keller Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) & ChardonnayRheinhessen, GERMANY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 13%
It would be no exaggeration to say Weingut Keller consistently produce the finest dry Rieslings in the world, a fact proven year after year since Klaus-Peter Keller took over the reins from his father in 2001. Along with his wife Julia, Klaus-Peter has continued to prioritise the quality of dry wine produced at the estate, and these are now some of the most sought after and collected wines on the planet.
Not content with crafting the finest Riesling, the Keller family are also rather adept with Burgundy varietals. This Weissurgunder (Pinot Blanc) & Chardonnay is Felix Keller's take on white Burgundy utilising grapes from across Dalsheim.
- 2022 Keller Von der Fels RieslingRheinhessen, GERMANY$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
It would be no exaggeration to say Weingut Keller consistently produce the finest dry Rieslings in the world, a fact proven year after year since Klaus-Peter Keller took over the reins from his father in 2001. Along with his wife Julia, Klaus-Peter has continued to prioritise the quality of dry wine produced at the estate, and these are now some of the most sought after and collected wines on the planet.
While 85% of the estate consists of Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) sites, only a tiny proportion is labelled as such meaning there are great values to be had with their entry Trocken Riesling, along with the 'baby GG' Von der Fels.Other Reviews....
Tank sample. The dry counterpart to Limestone Kabinett, from different parts of the same vineyards.
Exotic citrus nose, spiced like ginger, ‘spice’ in the texture as well as the flavour. Ripe citrus yet balanced by intense freshness. Slightly chewy texture. Firm, dense but lively freshness on the finish, spicy on the finish. Drink: 2023-2030.
17/20 points
Julia Harding MW - jancisrobinson.com - 2022 Keller RR RieslingRheinhessen, GERMANY$180. 00Bottle$2160.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
It would be no exaggeration to say Weingut Keller consistently produce the finest dry Rieslings in the world, a fact proven year after year since Klaus-Peter Keller took over the reins from his father in 2001. Along with his wife Julia, Klaus-Peter has continued to prioritise the quality of dry wine produced at the estate, and these are now some of the most sought after and collected wines on the planet.
RR refers to Riesling from red soils – a half-hectare parcel within Kirchspiel that gives fruit that is a little more spicy than fruit that goes into Von der Fels. This parcel doesn't always ferment to complete dryness, as was the case in 2022, where it has also been blended with some top parcels from Abtserde and Morstein (usually destined for the GGs) that also didn't ferment totally dry. The resulting blend is just off-dry, with around 12 g/L of residual sugar, making this RR a serious example of feinherb.
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- 94
2022 Keller Westhofen Sylvaner TrockenRheinhessen, GERMANY$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkIt would be no exaggeration to say Weingut Keller consistently produce the finest dry Rieslings in the world, a fact proven year after year since Klaus-Peter Keller took over the reins from his father in 2001. Along with his wife Julia, Klaus-Peter has continued to prioritise the quality of dry wine produced at the estate, and these are now some of the most sought after and collected wines on the planet.
Other Reviews....
Lovely fresh pear and pear blossom aromas. Excellent concentration with a wonderful freshness that doesn’t come from acidity (which is modest). The finish is long and silky with an underlying stoniness. From the Kirchspiel and Steingrube sites. Drink or hold.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comTank sample. 45-year-old vines just below Abtserde. Upper part is red soil with high iron and limestone content.
Highly mineral first impression but with a real depth on the palate, a spice in both texture and flavour. Spicy pear contrasts with immense freshness, like a super-charged Muscadet. Great length and concentration. The best village-level Sylvaner I have tasted. The fruit is not easy to describe because it is not what I would call a 'fruity' wine but it has so much depth of fruit. Drink: 2023-2030.
17/20 points
Julia Harding MW - jancisrobinson.com -
- 94
2022 Mader Pinot GrisAlsace, FRANCE$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinThis Pinot Gris comes from 37 year old vines planted on a heavy and deep clay soil with a bit of limestone. The clay brings softness and texture to the Pinot Gris and the deep soil provides lengths 20% of this cuvee is aged in old neutral oak with the balance in stainless steel.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Lifted ripe pear, Jonathan apple, honeysuckle and quince aromas emerge from the glass with hints of ginger spice also evident. Rich, texturally full and concentrated the palate is engulfed with luscious ripe pear, apple and honeysuckle flavours. Some refreshing quince and ginger spice elements sit in the background. Dry to off dry finish with a long lush and voluminous aftertaste. A classically styled Alsace Pinot Gris.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14% - 2019 Maison Louis Latour Meursault Perrieres Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Cork
Founded in 1797 Maison Louis Latour has survived the ages, and has always made it a point of honour to remain family owned. It is now run by the seventh Louis Latour who represents the 11th generation of the founding family, who like each generation before him, has worked hard to preserve the company’s unique heritage whilst ensuring the future with an ambitious and visionary spirit. The Latour family Domaine has been built up over the years and today covers 50 hectares of exceptional vineyards.
Widely considered the finest vineyard in Meursault, Les Perrières is marked by thin, rocky soils with high proportions of limestone. Across the various parts of Perrières, the topsoil is the thinnest, consisting of just a crumbling of limestone marl over the hard bedrock. The presence of the limestone helps to contribute minerality to the wines, a characteristic that Perrières wines are particularly noted for, especially in relation to Charmes or Genevrières wines.
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2019 Max Ferdinand Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$940. 00Bottle$11280.00 DozenABV: 6.5%Closure: CorkWeingut Max Ferdinand Richter produces world-class Rieslings from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the Mosel, and all production comes from estate holdings. The terroir of their steep vineyard sites is generally grey slate with different compositions of ferruginous (Brauneberg), mineral quartz (Veldenz) or clay (Graach, Wehlen, Mülheim) soils; those deeply influence character and flavour of the wines. In order to reduce quantity and increase concentration, pruning is severe and in prolific years a green harvest is carried out in August. The vintage is picked much later than that of most growers and is done entirely by hand. Three passes are done to select the best qualities to eliminate all inferior grapes and to keep perfect botrytis bunches or single berries for Auslese qualities and above. The same attention is paid to all vines from the QBAs on up through the Eisweins.
Other Reviews....
Based on single berries affected by an early botrytis, the raisin selection of the three-starred Auslese is the 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese. Intense, very precise and spicy on the nose, the 2019 displays concentrated peach, almond and biscuit as well as lemon chutney, tea and ginger aromas. Silky, refined and highly delicate on the palate, this is a super precise and elegant TBA with great precision, finesse and salinity. The sweetness is certainly palatable but balanced by the clarity, precision, finesse and seamless texture of this crystalline and stimulating TBA that is extremely hard not to score 100 points. Maybe later, after some years of bottle aging? This wine has all the potential to become a legend. Bottled with roughly 400 grams of acidity, 6.5% alcohol and high acidity that was at 16 grams per liter in the must stage. 70 liters produced. Drink 2035 - 2100.
99+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2020)This is packed with dried-fruit aromas, ranging from pineapple to dates and figs, but it remains finely nuanced, rather than drifting off into opulence and density. With aeration, some ceps/porcini character appears, too. A super elegant wine, in spite of the enormous concentration and the sweetness that comes with it. The playful, filigree finish makes it really stand out in this category. Drink or hold.
98 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comThe 2019er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese was made from fully-botrytized fruit picked at 210° Oechsle, and was fermented down to fully noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a hugely exotic nose made of baked pineapple, coconut, mango, starfruit, almond cream, dried fruits, and honeyed elements. The wine is hugely sweet and unctuous on the palate, where a whiff of volatile acidity adds pep to the structure. The finish is long and alluring, but also marked by a touch of volatile acidity at this early stage. This superb TBA may eventually exceed our high ratings, especially as the volatile elements withdraw into the background. What an impressive effort! Drink 2029-2069.
96+ points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 96
- 95
2019 Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 7%Closure: CorkWeingut Max Ferdinand Richter produces world-class Rieslings from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the Mosel, and all production comes from estate holdings. The terroir of their steep vineyard sites is generally grey slate with different compositions of ferruginous (Brauneberg), mineral quartz (Veldenz) or clay (Graach, Wehlen, Mülheim) soils; those deeply influence character and flavour of the wines. In order to reduce quantity and increase concentration, pruning is severe and in prolific years a green harvest is carried out in August. The vintage is picked much later than that of most growers and is done entirely by hand. Three passes are done to select the best qualities to eliminate all inferior grapes and to keep perfect botrytis bunches or single berries for Auslese qualities and above. The same attention is paid to all vines from the QBAs on up through the Eisweins.
Other Reviews....
From the overripe and botrytized berries of the Spätlese selection, the 2019 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is intense and concentrated on the nose, but due to the sulfuric notes, it is far from being as terroir-driven as the Spätlese or even the Kabinett. The fruit is concentrated yet piquant, fresh and elegant on the palate and pure, refined and subtle on the finish due to the crystalline acidity and finesse that represents the JSU. This is an excellent Spätlese that needs at least a decade to age to its full finesse. Tasted at the domain in September 2020. Drink 2035 - 2070.
95+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2020)Plenty of exotic-fruit character from botrytis, but they haven’t made this refined Auslese loud, only more complex and tantalizing. Considerable concentration, but everything fits together so neatly that it comes off as restrained. Very complex, almost dry finish with a hint of vanilla pod. Delicious now, but so much aging potential. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comThe 2019er Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese was made from partially botrytized fruit (1/3) picked at 115° Oechsle, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (125 g/l). It offers a gorgeous nose made of elderflower, cassis, white peach, coconut, almond paste, fresh pineapple, and loads of citrusy and minty elements. The wine proves stunningly tactile and subtle on the palate, where delicately creamy fruits mingle with ripe yet gorgeously juicy acidity. The finish is all about bright exotic fruits, citrusy elements, and fine notes of cream. This gorgeous sweet wine may seem almost irresistible now, but it will gain from a decade of aging as the sweetness will have receded and given way to more nuances. Drink 2029-2049.
95 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 96
2018 Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$680. 00Bottle$8160.00 DozenABV: 6%Closure: CorkWeingut Max Ferdinand Richter produces world-class Rieslings from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the Mosel, and all production comes from estate holdings. The terroir of their steep vineyard sites is generally grey slate with different compositions of ferruginous (Brauneberg), mineral quartz (Veldenz) or clay (Graach, Wehlen, Mülheim) soils; those deeply influence character and flavour of the wines. In order to reduce quantity and increase concentration, pruning is severe and in prolific years a green harvest is carried out in August. The vintage is picked much later than that of most growers and is done entirely by hand. Three passes are done to select the best qualities to eliminate all inferior grapes and to keep perfect botrytis bunches or single berries for Auslese qualities and above. The same attention is paid to all vines from the QBAs on up through the Eisweins.
Other Reviews....
Sourced in all the sections of the cru and picked with 270° Oechsle and perfect botrytis, the yellow-golden 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is deep, intense and refreshingly spicy and mineral on the compact and complex lime-zesty nose that reminds me of stewed apricots and sweet fig mustard with lemon zests. Incredibly rich, round and viscous but also finessed, fresh and vital on the palate, this is a highly elegant and perfectly balanced TBA with a long, intense and even stimulatingly vital finish. Compared to the filigreed, more crystalline Wehlener Sonnenuhr sibling, this is far more rich and oily textured, yet I can't avoid taking a large sip again and again, hedonist that I am! Thanks to the lower acidity, this is a smooth and sweet but still fine and delicate TBA that tastes fruity, fresh and highly digestible even at this early stage. All the components are already perfectly interwoven, and it's just a question of personal taste if you prefer to have this TBA sweet and smooth or matured and smooth. It's a marvelous wine in any case. It took a long ferment, until the end of June this year, which might have added a bit more complexity compared to the Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Tasted at the end of July and again in later August 2019 when the wine had already closed. Drink 2020 - 2090.
96-98 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Aug 2019)The 2018er Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling TBA was harvested at 260° Oechsle and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. A whiff of volatile acidity quickly gives way to stunning elements of brown sugar, mango, candied pineapple, bitter lemon, raisin and cream. The wine is smooth yet stunningly multi-layered on the palate and leaves a gorgeously smooth yet precise feel of dried fruits and herbs in the long and juicy finish. The saturating sweetness in the finish still needs to integrate. It could then easily exceed our already very high expectations. Drink 2038-2068.
97+ points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 97
2022 Novum ChardonnayMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkFrom a family who have been managing vineyards in Marlborough since the 1970's, after a significant stint at Fromm winery, ending as General Manager, Will Hoare and his wife Rachel decided to venture out on their own to produce wine from the incredible vineyards they had access to. For this wine fruit was sourced from a block in the central Wairau plains of Marlborough planted entirely with the Mendoza clone around the mid 1980’s. Originally a riverbed, this block is naturally warm during the day, as well as at night, thanks to the radiating effect of the exposed greywacke rock lying beneath the vines. The rock radiates heat up into the canopy, making this vineyard an ideal site for ripening Chardonnay.
A sublime, world class Marlborough Chardonnay.
Fermented with wild yeast in 10% new oak followed by 13 months maturation on full lees that is stirred each month. Brilliant pale straw colour with straw coloured edges and a watery hue. Showing superb intensity captivating aromas of white peach, cashew and honeycomb greet the nostrils with biscuity nougat, citrus, hints of crème brulee and spice lending further complexity. Rich, mouthfilling and opulent, peach, honeycomb, ripe nectarine and cashew flavours engulf every corner of the palate and are complimented by crème brulee, biscuity nougat and spice characters. Finishes with a citrusy freshness which counterpoints an almost creamy like texture. Boasting superb concentration and power it shows Burgundian like sophistication and refinement, concluding long and enveloping.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14% - 2019 Pierre-Henri Rougeot Meursault Sous la VelleBurgundy, FRANCE$185. 00Bottle$2220.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: Cork
Pierre-Henri Rougeot not only crafts the wines at his family property, Domaine Rougeot based in Meursault, since the 2017 vintage he has also made wines under his own label. Before returning to Domaine Rougeot, Pierre-Henri worked at Domaine De Montille in Volnay, as well as selling oak barrels to some of the finest names in Burgundy. The connections formed during this time have allowed Pierre-Henri to source from a collection of prime plots throughout the Cote, favouring only organically farmed grapes. Pierre-Henri has refined his winemaking along the lines of luminaries such as Lalou Bize-Leroy of Domaine Leroy, and as a result he uses 100% whole bunch to macerate the reds which results in characterful yet silky structure on the palate. When it comes to pressing the reds, he uses a modern vertical press rather than the common pneumatic press to extract very pure, concentrated and fresh juice. The whites are pressed directly to barrels, with no battonage and aging sur lees. There is neither filtration nor clarification and only indigenous yeasts are used for the fermentations. The oak regiment is light with enough new oak to lift the attributes of each wine but it's subtle enough to be almost impossible to notice. Pierre-Henri is making waves in France and around the world and is a name to watch.
The Sous la Velle vineyard is located at the foot of the Meursault hill, opposite the Chateau de Meursault. Soils here are much richer and contain less limestone than other parts of Meursault.
- 2019 Pierre-Henri Rougeot Saint-RomainBurgundy, FRANCE$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
Pierre-Henri Rougeot not only crafts the wines at his family property, Domaine Rougeot based in Meursault, since the 2017 vintage he has also made wines under his own label. Before returning to Domaine Rougeot, Pierre-Henri worked at Domaine De Montille in Volnay, as well as selling oak barrels to some of the finest names in Burgundy. The connections formed during this time have allowed Pierre-Henri to source from a collection of prime plots throughout the Cote, favouring only organically farmed grapes. Pierre-Henri has refined his winemaking along the lines of luminaries such as Lalou Bize-Leroy of Domaine Leroy, and as a result he uses 100% whole bunch to macerate the reds which results in characterful yet silky structure on the palate. When it comes to pressing the reds, he uses a modern vertical press rather than the common pneumatic press to extract very pure, concentrated and fresh juice. The whites are pressed directly to barrels, with no battonage and aging sur lees. There is neither filtration nor clarification and only indigenous yeasts are used for the fermentations. The oak regiment is light with enough new oak to lift the attributes of each wine but it's subtle enough to be almost impossible to notice. Pierre-Henri is making waves in France and around the world and is a name to watch.
Pierre-Henri sources the Chardonnay for his Saint-Romain from Sous la Velle and Sous le Chateau plots.
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- Reduced
2019 Ridge Vineyards Estate Chardonnay - DAMAGED LABELCalifornia, UNITED STATESReduced from $140.00$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2019 Chardonnay Estate is super-elegant and precise. Scents of tangerine oil, mint, apricot and chamomile all grace this lithe, wonderfully expressive Chardonnay. Bright acids and a very slight touch of reduction frame the close. The Estate is made for near and medium-term drinking. I would prefer to open it well in advance though. Drink 2022-2029.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousComing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 2019 Chardonnay Estate offers a beautiful sense of reduction and minerality in its stone fruits, toasted brioche, and crushed stone-like aromas and flavors. A kiss of green almonds and salinity emerges with time in the glass, and this is a beautiful, classic Chardonnay from this team that will evolve gracefully for a good 20 years or more. Drink 2021 - 2041.
95 points
Jeb Dunnuck -
- 96
- 94
2020 Rippon Sauvignon BlancCentral Otago, NEW ZEALAND$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now (2022)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkForty percent of this wine was fermented in old French oak barrels. Bright pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pungent unripe passionfruit and grapefruit scents mix with distinct grassy asparagus notes. Intense herbaceous gooseberry, lemon and grapefruit flavours sit over a grassy asparagus, lime and fresh capsicum back drop. Finishes dry with crisp acidity and a long zesty aftertaste that has a distinct grassiness to it.
Drink now.
Alc. 12.5%
Other Reviews….
Oof. Lots on here. No prisoners in the perfume. Wasabi peas, jalapeno, lime, passionfruit – palalte and perfume. Flavoursome beasty! It’s got so much going on, crazy. Texture is great, chewy and chalky, races along at pace with refreshment factor on high. Quite an experience – an elevated example! Drink 2022-2025+
94 points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front -
- 95
2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley ChardonnayNapa Valley, California, UNITED STATES$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2023-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkFruit was predominately sourced from the cooler areas in the southern end of the Napa Valley where bay fog and breezes allow the grapes to ripen at a gradual, flavour building pace while retaining refreshing, natural acidity. A small percentage (4%) of fruit from Sonoma’s cool, ocean-influenced Russian River Valley adds diverse texture and flavour. Fermented in French oak barrels (16% new) then aged for a further 9 months in the same barrels on its yeast lees with regular stirring.
Bright straw colour with a watery hue. Intense ripe peach, honeycomb and crème brulee scents fill the nostrils followed by some butterscotch, bacon fat and spicy nougat notes. Rich, round and fat the full bodied palate is awash with ripe peach, honeycomb and butterscotch flavours which meld into a bacon fat, roasted almond and spice background. Creamy textured it finishes long, toasty and opulent.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- Organic
2020 Sadie Family Swartland Palladius Magnum (1500ml)Swartland, SOUTH AFRICA$520. 00Bottle$6240.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkThe Sadie Family team work with roughly 30-hectares of vines, one-third of which are estate, with the other vines farmed entirely under their control. This is a considerable undertaking when you consider, at their furthest point, the vineyards lie some 250 miles apart and are spread across 53 separate parcels. Then consider that everything is dry grown and organically farmed and that each parcel, having different geologies, aspects and often grape varieties, will require different management. These vines lie mostly on the high altitude slopes of Swartland’s Atlantic-influenced mountains, one hour north of Cape Town on the Western Cape.
Sadie’s signature white is a blend of all 11 of Swartland’s official white varieties, with old, bush-vine Chenin Blanc playing the principal role. The idea is to produce a great white that represents the overall terroir of Swartland (as much as this is possible) and to use all the permitted varieties. As a result, this is harvested from 17 separate vineyard sites, with the full list of grapes taking in Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Blanc, Palomino and Colombard, as well as the hyper-rare Semillon Gris (which plays a key role in Sadie’s Kokerboom and ‘T Voetpad old vine cuvées).
As for the winemaking, the fruit was sorted and pressed in a traditional basket, directly into clay amphoras and six concrete eggs. The wine finished fermenting in its own time (which can take up to 20 months) after which it went to large wooden foudre for maturation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.Other Reviews....
No fewer than 17 parcels and 11 varieties (for now) contribute to the blend of this impressive white. Palomino, Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc are the dominant grapes in a wine that nods towards the southern Rhône and Spain. Less exotic than it was, Palladius is tauter and more focused these days, with freshness and zip form Clairette Blanche, Colombard and Verdelho, citrus, pear, lemongrass and aromatic herb notes and a tangy, wet stone finish. Drink: 2023-2030.
96 points
Tim Atkin MW - South Africa Report 2020 -
- 94
- 94
2018 Sadie Family Swartland PalladiusSwartland, SOUTH AFRICA$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkThe Sadie Family team work with roughly 30-hectares of vines, one-third of which are estate, with the other vines farmed entirely under their control. This is a considerable undertaking when you consider, at their furthest point, the vineyards lie some 250 miles apart and are spread across 53 separate parcels. Then consider that everything is dry grown and organically farmed and that each parcel, having different geologies, aspects and often grape varieties, will require different management. These vines lie mostly on the high altitude slopes of Swartland’s Atlantic-influenced mountains, one hour north of Cape Town on the Western Cape.
Sadie’s signature white is a blend of all 11 of Swartland’s official white varieties, with old, bush-vine Chenin Blanc playing the principal role. The idea is to produce a great white that represents the overall terroir of Swartland (as much as this is possible) and to use all the permitted varieties. As a result, this is harvested from 17 separate vineyard sites, with the full list of grapes taking in Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Blanc, Palomino and Colombard, as well as the hyper-rare Semillon Gris (which plays a key role in Sadie’s Kokerboom and ‘T Voetpad old vine cuvées). Scattered thought the Swartland, most of the vineyards are rooted in decomposed Paardeberg granite (although four parcels lie on sandstone) and qualify for old vine status (35-plus years with the oldest vines planted in 1935). The younger fruit comes from Sadie’s own plantings, although even here the yields max out at 22 hl/ha.
As for the winemaking, the fruit was sorted and pressed in a traditional basket, directly into clay amphoras and six concrete eggs. The wine finished fermenting in its own time (which can take up to 20 months) after which it went to large wooden foudre for maturation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Throughout the season, Sadie’s major goal is to “try and get the maximum volume of compact fruit and texture together with the best potential volume of acidity and freshness.” That’s something he has unquestionably achieved here, with the breadth and texture setting Palladius apart from the from his old vine series whites. Unlike those wines, this relies less on the acidity, instead harnessing a deep phenolic freshness that structures the wine. Sadie continues, “Over the past five years Palladius has been the wine that gained most in quality and refinement and much of this has to do with the addition of more vineyards and the improvement of their viticulture.”
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Palladius is pale gold in color with an impressive meniscus that clings to the glass. The nose is youthful with a significant underlying mineral essence beneath aromas of waxy citrus blossom, Meyer lemon pith, raw honeycomb, wax melon and yellow apple skin. Medium-bodied, the 13.5% alcohol wine is majestic on the palate, displaying a tightly wound mineral tension, a waxy and textural mouthfeel and a kiss of phenolic bitterness to make this absolutely food-friendly and age-worthy. The wine continues to unfold and evolve on the palate, offering complex terroir expressions. Concluding with a long, drawn-out and persistent finish, flavors of dusty citrus linger for more than a minute. There’s no wonder why these wines are so highly allocated and sought after. I just had a daydream about how tertiary and nutty this bottle will be in 15 years. Simply stunning! Wow.
94 points
Anthony Mueller - Wine Advocate (Feb 2021)The 2018 Palladius is a blend of 12 grape varieties, whole-cluster-pressed and matured in clay and concrete amphorae. Only Eben Sadie can take a gallimaufry of grape varieties and create a wine of this caliber. It has a clean, pure bouquet of wax resin, pine needles, greengage plum and light chamomile scents that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is bright and vivacious on the entry and displays a wonderful waxy texture; peach skin, hazelnut and saline notes appear toward the finish. It's all about the umami.
94 points
Neal Martin - VinousSpace prevents me from listing all of them, but this remarkable Swartland white is made from 11 different varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Verdelho, Palomino, Marsanne and Roussanne, spread across 17 different sites. Peach, pear and lime flavours are beautifully melded on this more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts white, with gentle oak spice and a thread of acidity that runs through the wine like a cool underground stream.
97 points
Tim Atkin MW - South Africa Special Report 2020 -
- 93
- 93
2017 Sadie Family Swartland PalladiusSwartland, SOUTH AFRICA$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkSadie's signature white, Palladius, is a blend of all eleven of Swartland's official white varieties, with old, bush-vine Chenin Blanc playing the principal role. The idea is to produce a great white that represents the overall terroir of Swartland (as much as this is possible) and to use all of the permitted varieties. As a result, this is harvested from seventeen separate vineyard sites, with the full list of grapes comprising: Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon, Palomino and Colombard, as well as the hyper-rare Semillon Gris (which plays a key role in Sadie's Kokerboom and T'Voetpad Old Vine Series cuvées). Scattered throughout the Swartland, most of the vineyards are rooted in decomposed Paardeberg Granite (although four parcels lie on sandstone) and qualify for old vine status (35-plus years with the oldest vines planted in 1935). The younger fruit comes from Sadie's own plantings, though even here the yields max out at 22 hl/ha.
Other Reviews....
The 2016 Palladius comes from 17 different vineyards and was fermented in clay amphora and concrete egg and aged for first year, then racked and aged for additional year in old foudres prior to bottling. It has a well defined bouquet, quite neutral in style but blossoming with aeration to reveal hints of lanolin and melted candle wax. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, touches of curry leaf and spice and orange peel. A long tail on the finish of white pepper and sage completes this wonderful Palladius.
93 points
VinousBroad and lush in feel, featuring creamed melon, pear and yellow apple fruit flavors, framed by warm meringue, white ginger and brioche notes. The long finish flows nicely.
93 points
Wine SpectatorChenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Colombard, Palomino, Semillon Blanc, Semillon Gris, Roussanne, Verdelho, Clairette Blanche, Viognier. Fermented in clay amphora & concrete egg and aged for the first year, then racked & aged for additional year in old foudres. Unfined & unfiltered.
96 points
Tim Atkin, MW -
- 97
2015 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 7.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2015 (Lieser) Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese –Goldkapsel– (AP 14) is very intense and fine at the same time, with smoky and lemony flavors, a remarkable concentration and a perfume-like flavor of grapefruits. This wine is pure, piquant and concentrated, highly finessed, fresh and light on the palate. This is an intense, lush and elegant Auslese with a delicate and endlessly salty finish that reveals a very attractive grip and huge aging potential. With 7% alcohol and just a bit of botrytis.
97+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Apr 2017) -
- 95
- 93
2020 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling KabinettMosel, GERMANY$62. 99Bottle$755.88 DozenABV: 9%Closure: StelvinSelbach-Oster has a history in the wine trade dating back 1660, while the current winery was formed in the mid 1800's. Known for producing highly detailed and pure expressions of Riesling, Selbach-Oster have vines planted in some of the greatest sites in the Mosel, including Zeltinger Himmelreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr; Wehlener Sonnenuhr; and Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the increasing help of son Sebastian and daughter Hannah, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes, like his late father Hans, has continued the use of traditional oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and predominantly with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Other Reviews....
From the steep and shallow as well as warm part of the cru, with less fine soils than the Schlossberg, the 2020 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Kabinett offers a clear, pure and stony bouquet with rocky and flinty notes. Lush and elegant, refined and complex on the palate, this is an expressive, finely grippy and salivating Sonnenuhr Kabinett that is not really in a Kabinett style, but it's gorgeous and has age-worthy quality. 9% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022. Drink 2028 - 2060.
93+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Aug 2022)A beautiful Kabinett that’s got so much racy energy that it makes you glad to be alive. So minty and mineral at the long, literally brilliant finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comThe 2020 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It offers a beautiful nose of cassis, passion fruit, herbs, and spices. The wine proves subtle and racy on the palate and leaves a gorgeously intense feel of racy and zesty fruits in the nicely light-footed finish. The after-taste underlines the raciness and playful side of the wine. It may have a touch more presence that your usual Kabinett but makes this more than up through intensity and focus. Drink 2026-2040.
92 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 92
- 94
2020 Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling KabinettMosel, GERMANY$62. 99Bottle$755.88 DozenABV: 9%Closure: StelvinSelbach-Oster has a history in the wine trade dating back 1660, while the current winery was formed in the mid 1800's. Known for producing highly detailed and pure expressions of Riesling, Selbach-Oster have vines planted in some of the greatest sites in the Mosel, including Zeltinger Himmelreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr; Wehlener Sonnenuhr; and Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the increasing help of son Sebastian and daughter Hannah, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes, like his late father Hans, has continued the use of traditional oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and predominantly with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Other Reviews....
The 2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett is deep, pure and iodine on the nose that shows ripe, white and yellow stone fruit aromas with spicy notes of broken slate. Lush, dense and round on the palate, this is an elegant as well as saline and tensioned Kabinett with remarkable piquancy and salinity. 9.5% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in July 2022. Drink 2022 - 2060.
94+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Aug 2022)What charming white-fruit and flower aromas and what a light body with playful elegance on the palate. Very attractive, medium-dry finish with delicate minerality. Drink now. Screw cap.
92 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comThe 2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It offers a rather engaging nose made of pear, peach, and citrusy fruit, and floral elements. The wine develops quite some presence on the palate (it has 9% of alcohol) and leaves a subtle feel of canned peach in the long finish. It develops a great feel of finesse and presence in the after-taste. Drink 2026-2040.
91 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 95
- 93
2019 Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling SpatleseMosel, GERMANY$87. 99Bottle$1055.88 DozenABV: 9%Closure: CorkSelbach-Oster has a history in the wine trade dating back 1660, while the current winery was formed in the mid 1800's. Known for producing highly detailed and pure expressions of Riesling, Selbach-Oster have vines planted in some of the greatest sites in the Mosel, including Zeltinger Himmelreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr; Wehlener Sonnenuhr; and Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the increasing help of son Sebastian and daughter Hannah, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes, like his late father Hans, has continued the use of traditional oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and predominantly with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Other Reviews....
Planned to be a Kabinett that finally got too ripe (100° Oechsle), the 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese * is clear and intense on the nose. Juicy and quite rich on the palate, this is a piquant and acidity-driven Spätlese with an enormously piquant and salty finish. Picke din the first week of October, it has laser sharp acidity that cuts through the rich texture that is based on 15% to 18% botrytis fruit. Tasted at the domain in September 2020. Drink 2026 - 2050.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2020)Hang on to your hat. With its enormous ripeness and brilliant acidity, this monumental wine defies the limits of the Spätlese category. None of the exotic fruit that’s so typical for 2019, rather you're in the kingdom of the peach here ! Decades of aging potential. Drink or hold.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comThe 2019er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese * was made from fruit harvested at 100° Oechsle and fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (81 g/l). It exhibits some smoky, minty, and ripe scents of pear, quince, almond cream, lavender, pineapple, and smoke on the nose. The wine reveals a more exotic and animating side on the delicate and subtly smooth palate, and leaves one with a feeling of presence and intensity, but all focused and chiseled in the long finish. Drink 2026-2039.
93 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 99
2018 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$550. 00Bottle$6600.00 DozenABV: 6.5%Closure: CorkSelbach-Oster has a history in the wine trade dating back 1660, while the current winery was formed in the mid 1800's. Known for producing highly detailed and pure expressions of Riesling, Selbach-Oster have vines planted in some of the greatest sites in the Mosel, including Zeltinger Himmelreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr; Wehlener Sonnenuhr; and Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the increasing help of son Sebastian and daughter Hannah, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes, like his late father Hans, has continued the use of traditional oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and predominantly with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Other Reviews....
Fermented in glass balloon for 22 months and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is highly concentrated yet pure and spicy/stony on the apricot-scented nose that is enormously detailed and refined for this class. Enormously rich and juicy-piquant on the palate, this is a fantastically precise and stimulating TBA that will become a legend years from now. This is a perfectly balanced noble sweet wine with unreal precision. Picked with 201° Oechsle and bottled with nearly 7% alcohol, 318 grams of residual sugar and 11.5 grams of total acidity. Tasted from AP 22 20 in September 2020. Drink 2030 - 2100.
99+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2020)The 2018er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese was harvested at 201° Oechsle and was fermented down to fully noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers an absolutely magnificent and deeply complex nose of apricot, apple jelly, honey, marzipan, almond paste, coconut cream, dried apricot, and even a hint of floral nuances. Despite its richness and impressive levels of residual sugar, it proves crystal clear on the palate and rewards one with plenty of yellow honeyed fruits delivered with creamy and unctuous viscosity. Ripe, pure, and zesty acidity runs through the wine and gives it great focus and intensity right into the incredibly long finish. This TBA is simply stellar! Drink 2038-2118.
100 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 95
- 99
2017 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese* (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 7%Closure: CorkSelbach-Oster has a history in the wine trade dating back 1660, while the current winery was formed in the mid 1800's. Known for producing highly detailed and pure expressions of Riesling, Selbach-Oster have vines planted in some of the greatest sites in the Mosel, including Zeltinger Himmelreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr; Wehlener Sonnenuhr; and Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the increasing help of son Sebastian and daughter Hannah, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes, like his late father Hans, has continued the use of traditional oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and predominantly with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Other Reviews....
The 2017 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese * is perfectly concentrated and refined on the nose with its aromas of stewed peach, fine botrytis and even slate. Lush, beautifully fine and finessed on the palate, this is a salty-piquant, fresh and highly delicate Beerenauslese with stimulating salinity and citrus fruit. This is a beauty of great finesse and elegance. Bottled with 6.5% alcohol (in 375-milliliter bottles), it's not sticky or sweet at all but is endlessly salty. A beauty. Tasted in March 2019.
99 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (June 2019)This “one-star” BA has a “no-star” counterpart which I did not taste. “They were both very good and would have made an outstanding blend,” said Selbach, “but this lot exhibited a tick more finesse,” so he opted for separate bottlings, of which this one constituted 200 liters. White raisin and apple jelly are accompanied on the nose by prickle of lemon peel and radish, then pick up brown spices, honey, hazelnut paste and mango chutney on a viscous yet buoyant palate, leading to a vibrant, superbly multifaceted and ravishingly sustained finish. Drink 2019 - 2060.
95 points
David Schildknecht - VinousThe 2017er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * was harvested at a massive 155° Oechsle, i.e. already in TBA territory. It displays an immensely complex nose made of nut paste, raisin, candied grapefruit, mango, smoke, vanilla and bergamot. The wine is superbly aromatic on the palate where it delivers mango, honey, raisin, plum, nut paste, apple jelly and orange jam with remarkable presence and delicacy. The finish proves hugely pure and immensely long. The combination of density and finesse defies all logic. What a great dessert wine in the making! Drink 2027-2067.
99 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 97
2018 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 7.5%Closure: CorkSelbach-Oster has a history in the wine trade dating back 1660, while the current winery was formed in the mid 1800's. Known for producing highly detailed and pure expressions of Riesling, Selbach-Oster have vines planted in some of the greatest sites in the Mosel, including Zeltinger Himmelreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr; Wehlener Sonnenuhr; and Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the increasing help of son Sebastian and daughter Hannah, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes, like his late father Hans, has continued the use of traditional oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and predominantly with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese displays an intense but very clear and radiant citrus color in the glass. The nose is concentrated and fresh, with lemon chutney and broken stone aromas. Pure and fresh on the palate, this is a dense, concentrated, rich yet very precise, fresh and elegant BA with a long, crunchy, terroir-driven finish that represents the delicate slate structure of the Sonnenuhr. Still young but not really sweet due to the crystalline acidity structure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020. Drink 2028 - 2080.
97 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2020)This 2018er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling BA was harvested at approx. 130° Oechsle and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (approx. 200 g/l). This cask sample offers a gorgeous and clean nose of candied grapefruit, pineapple juice, rhubarb, apricot , melon and honey. The wine is very juicy and sweet on the delicately viscous palate. The finish is quite intense and very long. This BA is still very sweet and juicy, and will please lovers of rich and intense dessert wines. Drink 2028-2058.
94-96 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines -
- 95
- 93
2021 Te Mata Estate Elston ChardonnayHawkes Bay, NEW ZEALAND$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinFirst produced in 1984, Te Mata’s Elston Chardonnay is from the Estate’s oldest vineyards located on the hillside above the winery. Fermented in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels with a number going through malolactic fermentation. The finest lots were then selected and matured for a further 11 months in the same barrels.
Brilliant pale straw colour with distinct highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Pronounced ripe peach and nectarine scents are interwoven with hints of honeycomb, crème brulee, biscuity nougat and spice notes. Rich and well rounded texturally, the palate is decorated with fleshy peach and nectarine fruits which overlay a dried honey, cashew, biscuity nougat, subtle crème brulee and spice back drop. Energetic acidity lends freshness to a long, lively yet delicately creamed finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Expressive nose of white grapefruit, white pears, sea shells, nutmeg, cloves and dried lemons. It's medium- to full-bodied with a creamy and layered texture. Vibrant. Lovely sweet fruit and integrated subtle spice notes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 99
- 96
2014 Trimbach Clos Ste Hune Riesling Magnum (1500ml)Alsace, FRANCE$1099. 00Bottle$13188.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
A stunning wine with ethereal aromas of sliced apple, sliced pear and mineral character. Flowers and honeysuckle too. Full-bodied, very tight and dense. It goes so deep and beautiful. Bright and tangy acidity. Has the depth of a great vintage of grand cru Burgundy but is so Clos Ste. Hune in character. Muscularly feminine and breathtaking.
99 points
Jamessuckling.comThe 2014 Riesling Clos Ste Hune is clear and intense on the concentrated nose, offering ripe white-fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a bone-dry, vital and finessed Riesling with a long and tension-filled, salty finish. The 2014 is a kind of quintessence of the Ribeauvillé/Hunawihr terroir: pure, lean, stony and salty, with no flesh, but lots of bones and minerals at this very early moment. Picked at 35 hl/ha this is a straight Sainte Hune that will last for for 30+ years. Drink 2030-2054.
96 points
The Wine Advocate -
- 95
- 90
2017 Wittmann Aulerde Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Tasted from the vat on April 30, 2018. The 2017 Aulerde Riesling GG offers a pure and chalky bouquet of ripe yellow-fleshed, almost tropical fruits along with dashes of lemon juice. Pure and lean but full of tension on the palate, this is a dry, firm and elegant Aulerde with juicy fruit and lovely balance. Good length and salinity and fine grip. Promising.
90-92 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine AdvocateLavish yellow fruit, including some almost overripe pineapple. This just avoids tipping into opulence; there's healthy acidity and that lifts this monster dry riesling at the bold, herbal finish. From almost 70 year old vines. Biodynamically grown grapes. Respekt certified. Drink or hold.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 91
2017 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Meursault Premier Cru Les PerrieresBurgundy, AUSTRALIA$420. 00Bottle$5040.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
As is usually the case chez Colin, this is the most elegant wine among these 1ers with its cool, pure and airy nose of lemon peel, mineral reduction, apple, pear and soft floral nuances. There is very good concentration to the seductively textured but precise medium-bodied flavors that flash plenty of minerality on the saline and strikingly persistent finish. Note well however that this chiseled effort is very firm and is a wine that is going to require extended patience.
91-94 Points
Burghound.com(Colin's vines are located just across the road from his Charmes and a bit closer to the village of Meursault): Bright, pale yellow-green. Wonderfully delicate aromas of underripe pineapple, white peach, flowers, spices and crushed rock. Denser than Colin's other Meursault premier crus but its uncanny thickness is fully buffered by dusty, palate-staining minerality. This very pure wine shows the penetrating energy of a tungsten filament. Consistent from start to endless finish. There's still an impression of sweetness here as the wine has two grams per liter of residual sugar, but Colin suspects that one of his three 350-liter barrels has not yet completely finished its sugar fermentation.
93-95 Points
Stephen Tanzer - Vinous -
- 94
- 93
2020 Schiopetto Collio FriulanoFriuli, ITALY$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2023-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: CorkMario Schiopetto was the man considered responsible for bringing fame to Friuli’s white wines. He pioneered wine preservation techniques in the wine making process, something lacking in the region in the 1970’s - cold and anti-oxidative handling, epitomised by the German handling of Riesling - along with the more 'French' technique of elevating their wines in a careful, more oxidative, texture-building manner.
Schiopetto’s standout variety is Friulano which sees 7-8 months on lees resulting in a wine that’s rich in texture and flavour with an abundance of wild floral and almond notes on the nose, supported on the palate with rich stone fruits and refreshing acidity.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with green shaded edges and a watery hue. Aromas of pear, lime and green apple gently infused with aromatic herbs are trailed by some stony mineral notes. Elegant and racy, pear and green apple fruits meld into lime, fresh herbs and slatey mineral characters on the back half. Riverstone like mouth feel finishing dry with zippy acidity and a long snappy flinty mineral laced aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%
Other Reviews….
Dried peaches and honeysuckle with some smokiness in the nose. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and a creamy texture. Flavorful and satisfying. Drink now.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
- Nick's Import
2016 Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru GenevrieresBurgundy, FRANCE$180. 00Bottle$2160.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
(Jobard picked a full crop of grapes at the beginning of the harvest): Sexy scents of lemon drop and wild herbs. Tactile, juicy and spicy in the mouth, showing excellent lift and mineral energy to the flavors of citrus fruits, ginger and minerals. This wine is not lower in acidity after its malolactic fermentation than the 2015 was, noted Jobard. Finishes lively and long, with an intriguing saline nuance. A lovely vin de terroir in the making.
94 Points
Stephen Tanzer - Vinous -
- 99
- 96
2019 A. Christmann Idig Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$180. 00Bottle$2160.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2019 Idig GG is pure and chalky on the deep, intense, fully ripe yet elegant, refined and lemonscented nose with its ripe mirabelle aromas. Silky and juicy on the first palate, this is an elegant, very complex, tight and mineral Idig with structure, finesse and well-dosed power. The finish is pure and salty, beautifully citric and very long, with promising grip and tension.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Aug 2020)The deepest waters are the most mysterious, because you look ever further down and never know what you're going to discover another five fathoms deeper. And just so, this beautiful riesling has seductive fruit that drags you into an abyss of beauty and joy. What stunning texture, and what a long, refined finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification.
99 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 95
2017 A. Christmann Reiterpfad-Hofstuck Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
A fabulous GG to drink now, thanks to an exotic-fruit character that's totally ripe yet so delicate, the succulence not a jot too much. Great balance through the long, very polished finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Respekt certified. Drink or hold.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 96
2016 A. Christmann Idig Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The delicious paradox of this great dry riesling is the way it is built on an imposing scale, but is very pure and super straight without any hint of heaviness, even on the very long powerful finish. You'll need to be patient for at least a couple of years if you want to experience all the subtle nuances, but the ripe mirabelle note is already delightful. At least thirty years of ageing potential.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.comFor once orchard fruit getsthe upper hand on meadow herbs in a Christmann Grosses Gewächs, but not in a heavy-handed but rather delightfully animating way. Fine mineral and herbal notions add interest and the merest hint of residual sugar serves only to increase the Idig’s power of seduction. I liked the 2014 for its subtlety, but think the 2016 deserves an extra half point for elegance.
18/20 points
Michael Schmidt - jancisrobinson.com -
- 94
- 95
2015 A. Christmann Idig Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$125. 00Bottle$1500.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Noble oaky flavors intertwined with a perfume of ripe stone fruits, lemons, herbs and crushed stones open to the very deep, complex and concentrated 2015 Königsbacher Idig Riesling Trocken GG. This full-bodied, powerful, round and juicy, yet vital and finesse-full Riesling reveals a dense and silky texture. The wine is structured with fine tannins and a highly elegant, mouthwatering and mineral acidity. The oak is still detectable in the beginning, but gets very well integrated with (some hours of) aeration. The finish is pure and salty, as well as powerful, sappy and aromatic. The 2015 Idig is very fine, but also compact and powerful. This will need some years to unfold its great character.
95 points
Stephan Reinhardt - The Wine Advocate #226 (Aug 2016)A hint of smoke from long yeast contact, but also complex earthy notes mark this out as one of the most serious dry rieslings of the vintage in the Pfalz. In spite of the understated style, this is already a delicious wine in which the power is all hidden beneath the calm surface; it only makes itself felt directly on the impressively long and complete finish.
94 points
jamessuckling.com -
- 99
2017 A. Christmann Idig Riesling Grosses Gewachs Magnum (1500ml)Pfalz, GERMANY$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Welcome to the dry-riesling deep end. However, you'll need some patience, if you want to experience this greatness to the full. Descriptors like mirabelle and apricot only hint at what this gentle giant has to offer. Enormously long, hyper-mineral finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Respekt certified. Better from 2019.
99 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
2018 A. Christmann Reiterpfad-Hofstuck Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Bitter lemons and orange pith, as well as barely ripe nectarines and loquat. Medium-to full-bodied with raw power to the acidity and crystalline purity to the citrus fruit. Long and mineral on the finish.
95 Points
jamesuckling.com -
- 99
2017 A. Christmann Idig Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Welcome to the dry-riesling deep end. However, you'll need some patience, if you want to experience this greatness to the full. Descriptors like mirabelle and apricot only hint at what this gentle giant has to offer. Enormously long, hyper-mineral finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Respekt certified. Better from 2019.
99 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
2015 Adam & Haart Goldtropfchen Riesling AusleseMosel, GERMANY$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 7.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2015 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Auslese is the botrytis selection of the terraced Laychen plot that mainly sources the dry Riesling cru. From ungrafted 70-year-old vines, this Auslese opens stunningly clear, fresh and stony on the nose, with flinty flavors and remarkably fine and precise fruit aromas. This is a very well defined, finessed and mineral Auslese with some Saar features, although it is more lush and tender, of course. The finish is pure and stony, very fine and piquant, with lots of salt and stimulating finesse. A great and gorgeous Mosel Auslese!
95 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate #230 (April 2017) -
- 93
2015 A.J. Adam Hofberg Riesling SpatleseMosel, GERMANY$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 7.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2015 Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Spätlese comes from the warmer part of the cru and from 60+ year old vines that were picked botrytis-free in the end of October. The wine offers a super precise, fresh and intense bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling berries intermixed with cool, crystalline-clear slate and flint aromas that give an exciting counterpoint. On the palate, this is a highly piquant and elegant, very finessed and lush Spätlese. It has a gorgeously elegant, balanced and stimulatingly salty finish. This is a picture-book Spätlese from the 2015 vintage and comes highly recommended.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate #230 (April 2017)