Recent Riesling Reviews
On April 18th and 25th, the San Francisco Chronicle published reviews of 2006 German Rieslings. We are thrilled to be able to offer these high scoring wines. From now through, May 31st, purchase the 11 bottles of Kabinetten, Spatlesen and Auslesen for $293, a savings of $40 (12%) off of the individual bottle price. Add a bottle of the Four Star rated 2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies’chen Beerenauslese for a total of $425, a savings of $78 (15.5%) off of the individual bottle price.
The Beerenauslese was the first Four Star rated wine of the year and the highest rated of all the wines. Wine Club Members, please call or email otto@dvw.com for your special pricing. The following are reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle and the Wine Spectator:
2006 Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Rheingau Kabinett ($19/750ml)
GRKB2006151
THREE STARS Very ripe nose with oily stone notes; quince, green apple, peach skin flavors with lingering grapefruit acidity on finish; a vibrant, focused palate.
2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Kabinett ($17/750ml)
GRKB2006195
TWO AND A HALF STARS Mineral, wet stone and lemony floral aromas on an understated nose; broad, solid palate with brown spice overtones, tingly acidity and plenty of sweet fruit on the focused, prolonged finish.
2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Alte Reben Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($22/750ml, $51.50/1500ml)
GRSP2006196
THREE STARS A fuller, riper wine with a slightly muted nose that opens to soft pear, golden apple and quince aromas with sorrel, lime zest and citrus acidity on palate. Rich but somewhat racy; layered and complex.
From the Wine Spectator March 31, 2008: 92/100 points “Slightly austere and stony in aroma, yet offers enticing lime, vanilla cream and slate notes on the palate. Delicate and expressive, with fine balance and a long mineral aftertaste. Drink now through 2028. 160 cases made." –B.S.
2006 von Hovel Scharzhofberg Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($22/750ml)
GRSP2006200
THREE STARS Exotic and zingy with Anjou pear, apricot, floral and dried plum aromas; dark mineral, gravel and galvanizing acidity to match the dense texture.
2006 Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($26/750ml)
GRSP2006053
THREE STARS Fresh and balanced, rich but still racy, with focused lemon-lime, roses, honey and pineapple aromas. Juicy fruit is dense on the palate; zippy acidity and mineral notes complete it.
2006 Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Rheinhessen Spatlese Goldkapsel ($50/750ml)
GRSP2006018
THREE STARS "Goldkapsel" or gold capsule - indicates a producer's "extra-good" wine with an actual gold-colored foil capsule around the neck of the bottle. Delicate floral, chervil, apricot, citrus rind and honey aromas with hint of petrol. Very intense, concentrated palate that shows some botrytis - white nectarine, Asian pear, ripe honeyed apricot and mineral. Complex and elegant.
2006 Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Rheingau Spatlese Goldkapsel ($39/750ml)
GRSP2006152
THREE AND A HALF STARS Subtle petrol, freshly zested lime, pineapple and dried peach aromas; vibrant, focused palate of apricot, ripe pear, green apple and rose hip with rigid mineral underpinning and a racy, long finish.
2006 Schloss Vollrads Rheingau Spatlese ($29.50/750ml)
GRSP2006138
TWO AND A HALF STARS Rich nose of pineapple, apple and ripe peach with a white mineral underpinning. Sweet fruit flavors have buoyancy and kick; long, intense midpalate with guava on the slightly fading finish.
2006 Schmitges Erdener Treppchen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Auslese** ($28.50/500ml)
GRSP2006164
THREE STARS Aromas of wet stone, tangerine and a slight fiery note akin to cinnamon and gasoline. Baked apple, lemon zest, tangerine and intensely sweet peach flavors knit together with intense acidity; subtle grainy texture on the refined finish.
2006 von Hovel Kanzemer Horecker Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Auslese ($63/750ml)
GRAU2006202
THREE STARS Golden with beeswax, granite, lurid apricot, rich nectarine and rambutan aromas. Similar flavors plus hint of caramel corn; unctuous, almost thick mouthfeel. Balanced with galvanizing acidity.
2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Beerenauslese ($170/375ml)
GRBA2006195H
FOUR STARS An exotic wine. Aromas of syrupy honeycomb, dried fruit - apple, apricot and papaya - with hints of pencil lead and diesel. Explosive apricot, dried pineapple and surging acidity on the unctuous palate. Superb definition and grip with great structure and balance.
San Francisco Chronicle
FOUR STARS: Extraordinary
THREE STARS: Excellent
TWO STARS: Good
Read full Riesling Review #1 and Riesling Review #2.
The Beerenauslese was the first Four Star rated wine of the year and the highest rated of all the wines. Wine Club Members, please call or email otto@dvw.com for your special pricing. The following are reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle and the Wine Spectator:
2006 Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Rheingau Kabinett ($19/750ml)
GRKB2006151
THREE STARS Very ripe nose with oily stone notes; quince, green apple, peach skin flavors with lingering grapefruit acidity on finish; a vibrant, focused palate.
2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Kabinett ($17/750ml)
GRKB2006195
TWO AND A HALF STARS Mineral, wet stone and lemony floral aromas on an understated nose; broad, solid palate with brown spice overtones, tingly acidity and plenty of sweet fruit on the focused, prolonged finish.
2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Alte Reben Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($22/750ml, $51.50/1500ml)
GRSP2006196
THREE STARS A fuller, riper wine with a slightly muted nose that opens to soft pear, golden apple and quince aromas with sorrel, lime zest and citrus acidity on palate. Rich but somewhat racy; layered and complex.
From the Wine Spectator March 31, 2008: 92/100 points “Slightly austere and stony in aroma, yet offers enticing lime, vanilla cream and slate notes on the palate. Delicate and expressive, with fine balance and a long mineral aftertaste. Drink now through 2028. 160 cases made." –B.S.
2006 von Hovel Scharzhofberg Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($22/750ml)
GRSP2006200
THREE STARS Exotic and zingy with Anjou pear, apricot, floral and dried plum aromas; dark mineral, gravel and galvanizing acidity to match the dense texture.
2006 Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($26/750ml)
GRSP2006053
THREE STARS Fresh and balanced, rich but still racy, with focused lemon-lime, roses, honey and pineapple aromas. Juicy fruit is dense on the palate; zippy acidity and mineral notes complete it.
2006 Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Rheinhessen Spatlese Goldkapsel ($50/750ml)
GRSP2006018
THREE STARS "Goldkapsel" or gold capsule - indicates a producer's "extra-good" wine with an actual gold-colored foil capsule around the neck of the bottle. Delicate floral, chervil, apricot, citrus rind and honey aromas with hint of petrol. Very intense, concentrated palate that shows some botrytis - white nectarine, Asian pear, ripe honeyed apricot and mineral. Complex and elegant.
2006 Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Rheingau Spatlese Goldkapsel ($39/750ml)
GRSP2006152
THREE AND A HALF STARS Subtle petrol, freshly zested lime, pineapple and dried peach aromas; vibrant, focused palate of apricot, ripe pear, green apple and rose hip with rigid mineral underpinning and a racy, long finish.
2006 Schloss Vollrads Rheingau Spatlese ($29.50/750ml)
GRSP2006138
TWO AND A HALF STARS Rich nose of pineapple, apple and ripe peach with a white mineral underpinning. Sweet fruit flavors have buoyancy and kick; long, intense midpalate with guava on the slightly fading finish.
2006 Schmitges Erdener Treppchen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Auslese** ($28.50/500ml)
GRSP2006164
THREE STARS Aromas of wet stone, tangerine and a slight fiery note akin to cinnamon and gasoline. Baked apple, lemon zest, tangerine and intensely sweet peach flavors knit together with intense acidity; subtle grainy texture on the refined finish.
2006 von Hovel Kanzemer Horecker Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Auslese ($63/750ml)
GRAU2006202
THREE STARS Golden with beeswax, granite, lurid apricot, rich nectarine and rambutan aromas. Similar flavors plus hint of caramel corn; unctuous, almost thick mouthfeel. Balanced with galvanizing acidity.
2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Beerenauslese ($170/375ml)
GRBA2006195H
FOUR STARS An exotic wine. Aromas of syrupy honeycomb, dried fruit - apple, apricot and papaya - with hints of pencil lead and diesel. Explosive apricot, dried pineapple and surging acidity on the unctuous palate. Superb definition and grip with great structure and balance.
San Francisco Chronicle
FOUR STARS: Extraordinary
THREE STARS: Excellent
TWO STARS: Good
Read full Riesling Review #1 and Riesling Review #2.
