SteveTimko
Steve Timko
I'm learning I like the wines of the Saar. This is about the fifth Von Hovel I've had and it was excellent.
What I know about Von Hovel is that they've got this Scharzhofberg vineyard and the monopole in Hutte. Scharzhofberg makes some of Germany's most prestigious wines, at leaast Egon Muller stickies, but Von Hovel is thought to have a bad position in the vineyard. The Hutte is preferable.
This wine I had tonight was excellent. I bought it mainly because it was a close out and I got a nice discount. Now I have to decide if I want to save the other two and let them age or drink them before they start to shut down.
So let's kick around Von Hovel. I'd like to hear the board's thoughts.
2006 Von Hvel Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (7/13/2009)
This is in a really good spot right now. Initially out of balance with a little bit too much sweetness, but as it gets air it comes into balance. Slate, slate and more slate on the nose and the palate. The nose also has diesel, nuttiness, flowers and some white fruit. The palate is surprisingly creamy for a kabinett -- I usually get this level of creaminess in ausleses. But the wine is light, perhaps even lithe. The palate is as complex as any young riesling I've ever had. Honey, yellow apples, lime the slate I've already mentioned and some Chinese spices I don't normally get until the riesling has had a decade or more of bottle age. The acidity is maybe a bit soft for me, which might make is significantly soft for others but there's so much going on with the rest of the wine it's easy to miss it.Lingering finish. A Dee Vine Wines import.
What I know about Von Hovel is that they've got this Scharzhofberg vineyard and the monopole in Hutte. Scharzhofberg makes some of Germany's most prestigious wines, at leaast Egon Muller stickies, but Von Hovel is thought to have a bad position in the vineyard. The Hutte is preferable.
This wine I had tonight was excellent. I bought it mainly because it was a close out and I got a nice discount. Now I have to decide if I want to save the other two and let them age or drink them before they start to shut down.
So let's kick around Von Hovel. I'd like to hear the board's thoughts.
2006 Von Hvel Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (7/13/2009)
This is in a really good spot right now. Initially out of balance with a little bit too much sweetness, but as it gets air it comes into balance. Slate, slate and more slate on the nose and the palate. The nose also has diesel, nuttiness, flowers and some white fruit. The palate is surprisingly creamy for a kabinett -- I usually get this level of creaminess in ausleses. But the wine is light, perhaps even lithe. The palate is as complex as any young riesling I've ever had. Honey, yellow apples, lime the slate I've already mentioned and some Chinese spices I don't normally get until the riesling has had a decade or more of bottle age. The acidity is maybe a bit soft for me, which might make is significantly soft for others but there's so much going on with the rest of the wine it's easy to miss it.Lingering finish. A Dee Vine Wines import.