- Recommended to Me by the Famed Riesling Expert "Soilpimp"
- The Same Wine That His Now His GG "GB"
- Cleaning Out Stefan's Cellar
- Nose: Punch You in the Face Saffron
- Honey, Melon, Cantaloupe and Bitter Melon
- Starting To Proffer Aged Aromatics
- Palate: Acid Structure on this Wine Exactly like 2008
- Remarkably Energetic
- Elite Finesse and Elegance
- Rich Yellow Fruits
- Intense, Unique Saffron
- Terrific Minerality
- 91 Points (WA) - Tasted in Its Precocious Youth
- Much, Much Better Now As It Has Opened - 95ish Today
- Case Pricing ($27.99 a Bottle)
Most of us are familiar with the famous Edgar Allen Poe short story, "The Cask of Amontillado." The protagonist lures Fortunado, a man who has insulted him, into a remote passage of the catacombs on the promise of tasting a rare Amontillado. When they are far from view, the protagonist chains Fortunado to the wall, walls him in and leaves him to die.
The wonderful thing about todays offer is that unlike the fabled (and faked) Amontillado, I actually have managed to secure a quantity of a spectacular wine direct from the cellar of Stefan Steinmetz.
the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat!"
The Story
The advantage that I have in dealing with Stefan Steinmetz over almost any other importer is huge. I was the first person to ever buy his wines in the USA way back in 2005 and also we are very close friends which gives me access to wines that no one else would ever have access to. I’ll shoot Stefan an email and say, “Hey, Stefan, need something old, what’s drinking well now?”
We’ve sold tons of Stefan’s young wines and will continue to. Yes, of course I want you all to taste them, but you have not yet. It is what it is. But let’s be real, have you ever gotten a bad Riesling from me? Riesling built me and made me the man who I am today and I am particularly picky on what Rieslings are out in the world with my name on the back of the bottle.
I love selling older wines from a new producer along with younger wines so clients can see how the wines will evolve. We did it with Muellen and Ludes and will continue this tradition with Steinmetz.
Soilpimp
Many of you know who Soilpimp is. I’ll not use his name but everyone in the NY and national Riesling scene knows who he is. Soilpimp is his Instagram handle and you all should follow him. Soilpimp is one of the kindest, most passionate German wine lovers I have ever met. I’ve known him and his lovely wife, Soilpimpette, for almost 15 years. When Soilpimp likes something he gets a lot and shares it with everybody. I mean everybody. His kindness and passion to share his passions knows no bounds. Obviously that means we get along famously. Soilpimp went to Germany recently and asked to be set up with a few appointments. One of the visits was Steinmetz and he had a wonderful time. It must be said that Soilpimp is an equal opportunity Riesling lover in that he likes what he likes and doesn't care about scores or reputation. He follows his own palate and is usually ahead of the curve when it comes to trends. He was the fist person to mention German Chardonnay to me. He is guided by his palate and not points and it’s one of the greatest palates out there for German wine. He is on an endless journey of German Wine Discovery.
So he sends me an email from the tasting at Steinmetz with a picture of a bottle of wine and says, “This is insane! You have to sell this, I’ll buy two cases!” This piqued my interest of course so I quickly e-mailed Stefan and he got a bottle out via the post.
The Wine
Today I’m proud to sell the 2014 Gunther Steinmetz Brauneberger Juffer HL for $29.99 a bottle on a 4-pack and $27.99 on a case. This is a GG style wine (it is now bottled under Stefan's GG line and called GB) and is $27.99 on a case. That’s bananas. No where else besides Germany will you find deals like this. The HL stands for “Hausen Laufer.”
On the nose, this wine jumps out of the glass with punch you in the face saffron. Stefan cut out all the botrytis in 14 so this is not botrytis induced saffron. Saffron is the typical aromas of the Juffer and particularly the HL section. The aromas are very, very smokey. Along with honey, melon, cantaloupe and bitter melon. It is opulent, but ripe and starting to show maturity but can age still for 20-30 years. This is more opulent than the typical 14s which tends to run lean and skeletal. You can begin to smell the age on this a little bit. It’s better primary and secondary which is a great place for a Riesling to be aromatically. The aromas after 30 minutes get so much more elegant with beeswax and herbs.
On the palate, the acid structure on this wine is exactly like 2008 which is a favorite of mine, Stefan’s and Soilpimp’s. Stefan harvested this very early and in fact all of Juffer was harvested in 2 days. There is so much energy on the palate it could power the sun for 10 seconds. It is vibrant and alive. Very ripe. Your gums get an acid attack so floss before please. The 14’s in general ate drinking so great right now. This is so open and fresh. It has aspects of freshness that taste like a young wine. It has youthful energy for being so old. Like the 85 year old dude wearing Jordans and Aime Leon Dore. There is elite finesse and elegance after around 30 minutes on the palate. That gorgeous saffron is here in spades. Lovely, rich yellow fruits. Much finer and elegant now after the initial airing and mineral push on the finish gets more elegant and the acids lighten up on the finish and becomes more integrated giving your gums a break. This is a genius wine and a price that is silly.
Stunningly long finish and the acids and minerals stay on top of the gums forever.
Below is the score from 91 Point Reinhardt score from when he tasted it in it's youth when it was a bit unresolved in its evolution. Stefan says it’s a 95 point wine now.
"From the Hasenläufer plot next to the Juffer Sonnenuhr, where sand and gravels is intermixed with weathered slate, the 2014 Brauneberger Juffer HL Riesling displays a deep, very clear and elegant, flinty-flavored, saffron yet still somewhat reductive bouquet with some herbal flavors. Full-bodied, round and intense on the palate, this is a powerful, elegant and very juicy Riesling with grip and good length. Fermented in stainless steel and kept on the lees until June, this is another more fruity Riesling of Stefan Steinmetz that was bottled with 11.5% alcohol and a round sweetness of 12 grams."- 91 Points, WA, Stephan Reinhardt
The Wine
Today I’m proud to sell the 2014 Gunther Steinmetz Brauneberger Juffer HL for $29.99 a bottle on a 4-pack and $27.99 on a case. This is a GG style wine (it is now bottled under Stefan's GG line and called GB) and is $27.99 on a case. That’s bananas. No where else besides Germany will you find deals like this. The HL stands for “Hausen Laufer.”
On the nose, this wine jumps out of the glass with punch you in the face saffron. Stefan cut out all the botrytis in 14 so this is not botrytis induced saffron. Saffron is the typical aromas of the Juffer and particularly the HL section. The aromas are very, very smokey. Along with honey, melon, cantaloupe and bitter melon. It is opulent, but ripe and starting to show maturity but can age still for 20-30 years. This is more opulent than the typical 14s which tends to run lean and skeletal. You can begin to smell the age on this a little bit. It’s better primary and secondary which is a great place for a Riesling to be aromatically. The aromas after 30 minutes get so much more elegant with beeswax and herbs.
On the palate, the acid structure on this wine is exactly like 2008 which is a favorite of mine, Stefan’s and Soilpimp’s. Stefan harvested this very early and in fact all of Juffer was harvested in 2 days. There is so much energy on the palate it could power the sun for 10 seconds. It is vibrant and alive. Very ripe. Your gums get an acid attack so floss before please. The 14’s in general ate drinking so great right now. This is so open and fresh. It has aspects of freshness that taste like a young wine. It has youthful energy for being so old. Like the 85 year old dude wearing Jordans and Aime Leon Dore. There is elite finesse and elegance after around 30 minutes on the palate. That gorgeous saffron is here in spades. Lovely, rich yellow fruits. Much finer and elegant now after the initial airing and mineral push on the finish gets more elegant and the acids lighten up on the finish and becomes more integrated giving your gums a break. This is a genius wine and a price that is silly.
Stunningly long finish and the acids and minerals stay on top of the gums forever.
Below is the score from 91 Point Reinhardt score from when he tasted it in it's youth when it was a bit unresolved in its evolution. Stefan says it’s a 95 point wine now.
"From the Hasenläufer plot next to the Juffer Sonnenuhr, where sand and gravels is intermixed with weathered slate, the 2014 Brauneberger Juffer HL Riesling displays a deep, very clear and elegant, flinty-flavored, saffron yet still somewhat reductive bouquet with some herbal flavors. Full-bodied, round and intense on the palate, this is a powerful, elegant and very juicy Riesling with grip and good length. Fermented in stainless steel and kept on the lees until June, this is another more fruity Riesling of Stefan Steinmetz that was bottled with 11.5% alcohol and a round sweetness of 12 grams."- 91 Points, WA, Stephan Reinhardt
Note: For context, if this were Champagne, this would be Brut at 12 grams of sugar. So it just has a bit to round out the wine.
2014 Gunther Steinmetz Brauneberger Juffer HL - $31.99 ($119.96 4-Pack, $335.88 12 bottle case) (
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