The Nahe's Salvator Mundi - The Top Site in the Nahe in 1901, Forgotten, Now It's Back with 95 Points

 2019 K.H. Schneider Königsfels Riesling GG
 - 95 Points
 - Sick Nose
 - Lemon Oil
 - White Cherries, White Flowers
 - Superb Mineral Perfume, Intense Slate 
 - Super Clean
 - Stunning Depth
 - Palate: Insane Energy and Excitement
 - Dazzling Purity
 - Stunning Length, Superb Structure
 - "on the edge of exotic extravagance" (SP)

2018 K.H. Schneider Königsfels Riesling GG
 - Sick Nose
 - Honeyed, Flowers, Ripe Peaches, White Cherries
 - So Complex and Substantial
 - Really Vivid and Detailed
 - White Raisins
 - Super Mineral
 - Palate: Gorgeous
 - So Juicy
 - A Juicy Mineral Effect
 - So Compact and Clean
 - Amazing Purity and Density 
 - Beguilingly Fresh

 - Ready to Drink While the 19 Ages

Even a Da Vinci Can Be Lost

We've all heard of the famous "lost Da Vinci," Salvator Mundi that sold for $450 million in 2017. It was painted somewhere around 1500 and we know that Leonardo made chalk drawings in preparation for painting it. Experts believe that the master painted all or most of it. It was thought to have been destroyed around 1600. There were 30 copies of the works and one was acquired in 2005 and analyzed. They discovered (using infrared) that portions of the painting had been painted over, which would only likely have been done on an original. And presto, $450 million. A final bit of trivia, the painting was supposedly purchased for the heir apparent to the Saudi throne, MBS.

The "Lost" Nahe VIneyard

Konigsfels was considered to be the top vineyard in the Nahe in the 1901 Prussian Tax Maps. For some reason, it fell out of favor and is not even included in Stephen Brook's definitive 2003 The Wines of Germany.

Of course, this is what Fass Listers live for. Buying wines that are and were great but are now unknown and, of course, ridiculously inexpensive for the price.

The site is in the famous village of Schlossbockelheim and is ranked equal to Felsenberg and above Marbach and Domberg.

Here are some bullet points about Konigsfels. 

1. Same level as Felsenberg/above Marbach and Domberg 
2. 40 year old vines 
3. Higher elevation than Felsenberg 
4. In the 1901 Prussian Tax Maps, Königsfels was at the highest level Aja this is the basis for the modern classification of the GG’s
5. In former times, it was considered one or the best sites in Nahe but was neglected for its steepness
6. The Schneider parcel is in the heart of the Konigsfels and is their steepest parcel. 
7. The soil is volcanic, porphyr with tons of rocks and stones 
8. 2018 is the first vintage as they took over from Von Racknitz

Andi Schneider

The best bang for one’s buck for Grand Cru German Riesling in our entire book is the humble, underrated and understated Andi Schneider. He is not in the VDP but should be so his wines are just absurd values and I’ve never ever opened a bad bottle. If the world was just his Grand Cru wines would be $50 and he would get the same acclaim as some of his much more famous Nahe peers. But that unjustness is to your and my advantages as today we can introduce a brand new Andi Schneider Grand Cru that is his best dry grand cru that I will now sell. Both Grand Cru wines are $29.99 a bottle today. It gets old, huh? How our prices are just so silly inexpensive? 

The Wines

So now how do the wines taste? I’m offering two vintages because both are awesome and if you’ve been paying attention I offered a Gut Hermannsberg 18 GG that Reinhardt tasted shortly after bottling that he gave a 93 and then upgraded to a 95+. Long story short the 18s are really on an upswing now and my tastings confirm this. Yes, I’ll also sell the 19 as that wine is ridiculous and has energy for days and it did get the higher score. But also I want you all to compare the wines when they land. 

First up is the 2019 K.H. Schneider Königsfels Riesling "GG" for $29.99 a bottle on a 4-pack. The19 is even better than the 18. And the 18 is terrific!

Wow. Sick nose. Citrus oil, white cherries, minerals and super clean but also a bit reticent. I know this will open as some 19s need 45 to 60 minutes for the aromatics to really shine. Some vulcanized rubber starts to show and intense slate. Stunning depth to these 19’s. Also some lemon oil starts to seep through. Superb mineral perfume accented by white flowers now. Confectionary aromas. Just brilliant. Just so complete and seamless. Nose has a nice lemongrass aroma now.

Wow, what a palate. Just insane energy and excitement. So pure and compact. Clean and fresh. The freshness of the 19s is remarkable. What persistence and super clean minerality. Dazzling purity. Man that length. A superstar. No flaws except it’s 5 years too young. This has superb structure and such clarity. One of the best Schneider's ever. Below is the 95 point score from Stuart Piggott. I gave this a 9.6 on Delectable. 

“So ripe that its on the edge of exotic extravagance, but it just holds back and marries this with great freshness and energy, the finish super-clean, yet very smoky with a hint of licorice alongside the minerals and the grapefruit acidity. Drink or hold.” - 95 Points, Stuart Piggott

Next up is the 2018 K.H. Schneider Königsfels Riesling GG for $29.99 a bottle on a 4-pack.

Sick nose. Just sick. Honeyed, flowers, ripe peaches, white cherries, so complex and substantial. Really vivid and detailed. White raisins. Nose as it airs gets herbal and super mineral. Love non fruit Nahe aromas. Stunning.

Palate is gorgeous. So juicy and has a juicy mineral effect. So compact and clean. Amazing purity and density but beguilingly fresh. Wow this is fleshy but so compact at the same time. This really tows such an incredibly fine line which is why this is the work of a genius. Has 15+ years ahead of it. Even better than the last bottle. This is the one to drink now while one waits on the 19’s to come around. I gave this a 9.5 and Piggott did not rate it. I think if Piggott tasted it again it would be in line with my Delectable score. Likely a 94 or 95.

2019 K.H. Schneider Königsfels Riesling "GG" - $31.99 ($119.96 4-Pack) 

2018 K.H. Schneider Königsfels Riesling "GG" - $31.99 ($119.96 4-Pack)