One thing that has been seriously lacking in my wine career has been trips. I went to Bordeaux when I was 18 as part of a bigger trip to Europe but I barely remember it as I was drinking much more beer at the time and could care less about wine. I remember we went to a tasting in some corporate building and maybe there were 10 reds and 10 whites. I think they were nasty to me then. Then I went to California when I was 22 and visited wineries like Matanzas Creek, St. Francis and others of that ilk. I liked California wine a bit then and really remember waxing poetic about Matanzas Creek Merlot 1992 and 1993. My first real trip was going to Bordeaux for the 2002 futures campaign in April/May 2003 . . . the year Parker did not go because of the buildup to the Iraq war. What a wimp! That was my first real trip because of the fact we visited many Chateau, went to the UGC's, ate incredibly well, and went over with a general purpose. My first buisness trip. Then there was a huge pause with some missed opportunites in between. Missed a trip to Chateauneuf, Alsace and Jerez with Soplexa and also missed two in a row to Loire with Joe Dressner and the Polaner peeps. I will be going on that Dressner trip this year. Mark my word! Whatever the hell that means . . . .
Then last summer I went on the trip that changed my life. Drving across Germany with Rudi Wiest visiting all of his estates. Unreal! I have posted the first fifteen parts here and I will post more before I leave on my latest trip to Germany on August 12th. Will be visiting many estates I saw last summer but also many new ones as I am going with the German Wine Bureau. I am sooooo excited to go as I am visiting the famed Keller estate in Rheinhessen. An estate I love but have had a very difficult time locating ant of the higher end wines in the US. Also will be visiting Dr. Loosen, Kesselstat and Selbach-Oster which will be new to me plus revisiting Karthauserhof, Fritz Haag, JJ Prum & Gunderloch.
All in all I need to travel more to wine regions. I cannot believe I have not been to Burgundy or the Loire? Soon!!
I just read over this post and it is so self-indulgent. I don't really care though as it is my blog. Ha!
Congratulation Lyle! Some nice Riesling´s are always waiting for you in Berlin.......
ReplyDeleteMartin "BerlinKitchen"
ReplyDeleteYou can't handle the Dressner trip. I'll make you my biatch.
ReplyDeleteMartin,
ReplyDeleteI will try and make it but my schedule is jam-packed . . .I'll see what I can do..would love to drink some Riesling with you.
Lyle,
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested in your notes from the visit with Keller. I had the pleasure of visiting the estate during a quick trip through the Rhein in February 2004. After a thorough tour of the estate's vineyards, featuring some of the most precisely manicured vines I've ever seen, we returned to the winery for what turned out to be a fairly brief tasting. We did work through some of the Grosses Gewachs offerings but got only as far up the scale as Spatlese, perhaps one Auslese, when it came to the RS wines. My hopes for one of their famous BA's weren't realized that day. Here's hoping you see one cracked open!
cheers,
David
McDuff's Food & Wine Trail
Bro, Keller is all flash. Style over substance. As you seem to disagree, I would note that some can be found at Moore Bros. wine shop on E. 20th St.
ReplyDeletePS: While at Moore Bros, you might pick up a bottle of Laible Weissburgunder for the real fireworks. Awesome.
ReplyDeletePPS: Have a great trip!
David,
ReplyDeleteI will definetly report eagerly on Keller.
Levi,
I cannot comment as I only have had estate Trocken and Von Der Fels Trocken.