Anyone going to the Age of Riesling tasting?

S

SteveTimko

Steve Timko
Wonder if anything stands out as a must try: Stadlmann, Sptrot-Gebeshuber, Mariell, Summerer, Pollerhof, Johann Buerl, Mantlerhof, Stefan Bauer, Winter, Becker-Landgraf, Hauth-Kerpen, Vollenweider, Weiser-Knstler and Randolf Kauer. There will also be a selection of the 2007 Terry Theise Imports: Willi Schaefer, Jakoby-Mathy, Merkelbach, Selbach-Oster, Toni Jost, Dnnhoff, Leitz, Spreitzer, Strub, Nigl, Brndlmayer, Schlo Gobelsburg, Hirsch, and Nikolaihof.

It's March 29 in Oakland.

I like Stadlmann (nice Zierfandler). I liked a Spatrot-Gebeshuber red I had once. Yes, a good red from Austria. Anything else jump out?
 
originally posted by maureen:
Vollenweider makes great stuff - be sure to try it.
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That's the one name on that list that catches your eye?

Ok, admittedly of the Mayer Imports, Vollendweider is probably the most famous. But the Terry Thiese names are the Big Ones.

That said, from what I have tasted of the other Mayer imports that is where you are likely to find some good value.

Have fun. Wish I could attend.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
I have never heard of that grape.
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From the K&L Wines Web site about Stadlmann, which David Schildknecht acknowledged on eBob is the best producer.

A special landscape brings forth a special wine. This holds true for the Thermenregion, where we find the unique Zierfandler, which grows exclusively in this region and nowhere else in the world. This indigenous vine variety loves the micro-climate of the vineyards on the south-eastern slopes of the foothills of the Vienna Forest. The best Zierfandler site in the Stadlmann wine-growing estate is the Mandel-Hh. What makes this grape special is the combination of acidity and sweetness - contrasting, yet by no means conflicting. This is due to the characteristic of the grape: While ripening, the berries of the Zierfandler vine turn light red on the side exposed to the sun, giving them a high sugar content. On the shady side, however, the berries are yellowish, crisp and acidic. The Zierfandler vines in the Stadlmann winegrowing estate are more than 40 years old. Stadlmann's Zierfandler is always fermented and aged in large wooden barrels, which emphasis its unmistakable character. This is an expressive, full-bodied and enormously dynamic wine, characterized by a powerful body with a unique fruity acidity. With a golden yellow color, it has a flavor reminiscent of quinces, honey, citrus notes and sweet raisins in harmony with bitter almonds and is crisp, sweet-sour on the palate.

I took a bottle to a Jeebus in San Francisco. Arjun said he liked it. Slaton called it interesting.
 
originally posted by maureen:
Vollenweider makes great stuff - be sure to try it.
Click to expand...
I've found some of his recent wines a little too creamy for my liking (almost like Loosen's wines, which isn't a style I enjoy).

All of the Terry Theise names sound awesome. The 07 Hirsch wines are supposed to be stunning across the board. I'll be checking in on the Heiligenstein Riesling soon (had the Gruner from that site last week and thought it was fabulous). I've loved the 07 Austrians I've had so far, so reckon that should be a fun lineup.
From the Germans - Donnhoff, Selbach, Schaefer and these days Leitz are pretty much awesome in any given vintage. I've heard very good things about Spreitzer's 07s as well - keep an eye out for the Kabinetts and the Jesuitengarten Spatlese.
And Jakoby-Mathy may be my new favourite great-value producer right now. Really delicious, classic Mosel wines that I can't get enough of (just polished off my last bottle of the 06 Kinheimer Rosenberg Spatlese a few nights ago), and the prices are really great.

Cheers,

Salil
 
Count me in as a fan of Weiser-Knstler and Mantlerhof. I like Vollenweider's wines but I am a friend and erstwhile employee.
 
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Anyone going to the Age of Riesling tasting?Wonder if anything stands out as a must try: Stadlmann, Sptrot-Gebeshuber, Mariell, Summerer, Pollerhof, Johann Buerl, Mantlerhof, Stefan Bauer, Winter, Becker-Landgraf, Hauth-Kerpen, Vollenweider, Weiser-Knstler and Randolf Kauer. There will also be a selection of the 2007 Terry Theise Imports: Willi Schaefer, Jakoby-Mathy, Merkelbach, Selbach-Oster, Toni Jost, Dnnhoff, Leitz, Spreitzer, Strub, Nigl, Brndlmayer, Schlo Gobelsburg, Hirsch, and Nikolaihof.

It's March 29 in Oakland... I liked a Spatrot-Gebeshuber red I had once. Yes, a good red from Austria. Anything else jump out?
Click to expand...

I'm probably going, although I'm not sure what time yet. I just had the Spatrot-Gebeshuber Klassik 2005 white (50-50 Rotgipfler-Zierfandler) tonight, and it's a stately, well-balanced and intriguing white - medium body, good acidity, interesting leafy-vinous-earthy flavor, bone dry. Very good with salmon in a creamy sorrel sauce.

Based on the basic dry Riesling, the Kauer wines are probably worth checking out on a QPR basis.

As long as you're drinking in the East Bay, Casey Hartlip of Eaglepoint Ranch (Mendocino) is pouring at Vine Street in Berkeley on Saturday afternoon the 28th. Nice Albarino, light jolly Grenache, seriously good Syrah, Petite Sirah and Coro Mendocino.
 
If Weiser-Knstler brings some 07, then I would encourage anyone to have a go at them. In particular the Ellergrub Kabinett, which is one of my favourites in this vintage.

If they continue on this trajectory, it won't be long before they also will be "one of the big ones".
 
originally posted by SteveTimko:
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
I have never heard of that grape.
Click to expand...

From the K&L Wines Web site about Stadlmann, which David Schildknecht acknowledged on eBob is the best producer.
... While ripening, the berries of the Zierfandler vine turn light red on the side exposed to the sun, giving them a high sugar content. On the shady side, however, the berries are yellowish, crisp and acidic.
Click to expand...

Interesting, and remniscent of Zinfandel's tendency towards "hens-and-chicks" and a small second crop. Sometimes I wonder if the modern tendency towards selective picking and grape-sorting hasn't in fact reduced the complexity and zest of many Zins. Though some winemakers will tell you, unless you're a fanatic, a fair amount of these secondary grapes get through anyway.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by maureen:
Vollenweider makes great stuff - be sure to try it.
Click to expand...

That's the one name on that list that catches your eye?

Ok, admittedly of the Mayer Imports, Vollendweider is probably the most famous. But the Terry Thiese names are the Big Ones.
Click to expand...

I didn't feel the need to point out the interesting producers from Terry's portfolio - figured everybody here knows them/has their favorites.
 
And the "other ones" might be more interesting. Mostly second or third tier producers with some ambition. If the importer picked well (and keeps the markup fair) they could be excellent for a very reasonable price. I do not know most of them personally but the gaultmillau 2009 had quite favorable comments and they tend to be not too far off for the respective regions.
 
originally posted by maureen:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by maureen:
Vollenweider makes great stuff - be sure to try it.
Click to expand...

That's the one name on that list that catches your eye?

Ok, admittedly of the Mayer Imports, Vollendweider is probably the most famous. But the Terry Thiese names are the Big Ones.
Click to expand...

I didn't feel the need to point out the interesting producers from Terry's portfolio - figured everybody here knows them/has their favorites.
Click to expand...

To date, when I describe what I'm looking for, Bill Mayer's recommendations have been spot on, whether his wines or Terry's.
 
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