This summer I went on what was easily the greatest wine trip of my life. To Mecca. To Germany. German wine is by far my favorite stuff out there and it fills half my cellar. Never been though and people were always surprised when I told them I'd never been before. Well when I recieved the call from Rudi Wiest in July I knew I'd have an answer for those people that I'd been. Well as this trip would prove I had more than an answer. I took in unreal scenery and really got to know German wine through the people, the views, the vineyards, their dogs and their wines. Just an unbelievable trip that I look back upon every day and thank my lucky stars I got to experience it. And with the 2005 vintage to boot!
Upon arriving at Frankfurt airport I met up with my crew. Turned out I was the only retailer on the trip. Their was a raucous crew from all over including two sommeliers and two guys from the other distributor in Vegas that is not Southern. We were all led by, as we affectionately called him during the trip, The Kaiser....none other than uber-importer Rudi Wiest. It was a grueling and tough trip (I got a skin infection and had an allergy attack!) but I have never had so much fun in my life driving (in some cases extremely fast!) throughout Germany with Rudi Wiest..listening to story after story about the history of German wine as he knows it and has experienced it. I cannot thank Rudi enough for inviting me on this trip and putting up with me for 3,000 miles all across Southern Germany. 25 producers in 10 days. With the first one being Mayer-Nakel in the Ahr. I have never tasted any Mayer-Nakel wines before but have heard many good things and my interest was piqued. They are extremely impressive, ripe, dense and age-worthy Pinots that really wowed me and opened my eyes as to how good German Pinot can be. Granted Mayer-Nakel is one particular style of Spatburgunder that is a bit more ripe than say Becker (Pfalz) or Rudolf Furst (Franken) I still loved the style and quality of the wines. We tasted in an old ancient Roman site on Mayer-Nakel's property with his vineyards looking over us. One of the most beautiful places I have ever tasted wine at. Some pictures below.
'05 Illusion - This is white Pinot Noir and comes across as very crisp, minerally with serious tang and a hint of bright cherry fruit. Silky and very well made. Excellent way to start.
'05 Spatburgunder - Aromas of old wood, animal, cranberry, cinnamon and intense minerality. Flavors of red fruits, chestnut and a silky texture with ripe tannins. Delicious and easy to drink. Very well made.
'04 Spatburgunder Blauschiefer - This is from blue-slate and twenty percent new oak. Brambly nose with well-integrated oak, red cherries and a dash of florals. Great crunch on the palate and excellent purity. Silky yet not a lightweight. Great stuff.
'04 Spatburgunder "S" - This had fifty percent new oak. Vosne-Romanee-like on the nose with exotic spices and pine cones. Very concentrated and ripe with beautiful texture. As the wine aerated it grew more complex and layered. Really great stuff but we were only getting started.
'04 Dernauer Pfarrwingert Erstes Gewachs - This is the first of three EG's from 100% Spatburgunder of which were all aged in 100% new oak. These were up there with the greatest Spatburgunders of the trip and were very Burgundian. So much on the nose. A potpourri of pine needles, spice, ripe cherry fruit, tea leaves and mineral. Youthful on the palate with tremendous concentration and ripe fruit. Very dense and long. Would love to put this in a bunch of 1er Cru Red burgs from a vintage like '01 or '96.
'04 Walporzheimer Krauterberg Erstes Gewachs - Just a profound wine and the best of the trio. In my notes I have "The La Tache of Germany." Extremely concentrated and dense with soaring aromatics and a sleek frame. Wonderful acid and mineral spine that keeps this startling wine focused from beginning to end. Just profound.
'04 Bad Neuenahrer Sonnenberg Erstes Gewachs - The most exotic nose of the three with dense layers of spice and fruit and some apparent oak. Very young on the palate with some serious tannins but great length. Definetly needs the most time of all of these Spatburgunders. Still fleshy and with great purity.
It was an eye-opening tasting Pinot this good from Germany. It was off to the Hotel in Trier after this where we would stay for three nights as we visited 12 estates in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.
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