These are notes from my August 2006 visit to Weingut Robert Weil. An estate I have mixed emotions about as the wines have always seemed too perfect, too chiseled with any character or soul to me. The estate is easily the most Bordeaux-like with gravel lined walkways and looks and just oozes money. Owned by Suntory which might explain the gleaming money vibe at this revered estate. Karina Stuller is the export representative of the estate and is absolutely charming and a fine representative of these wines and is aways a highlight whenever Weil is involved. This visit ws wonderful but did not change my view or attitude about the wines. I only have one bottle of Weil in the cellar and it is the 2001 Kiedricher Grafenberg Spatlese which I wil hold onto for years to come.2005 Estate Riesling Dry - Orange blossom on the very pure and slightly candied nose. Chalky ripe palate with good minerality and a wonderfully vivid echo of green apple on the finish.
2005 Kiedricher Grafenberg Ertses Gewachs - One of the few EG bottlings I just do not get. I believe there is some new oak here which weirds this cuvee out for me. This had a citrus nose with extreme ripeness and a nice purity. Palate was ethereal and very ripe with some unresolved yeast on the finish along with a whack of slate. The oak coms through on the finish in the form of caramel. Not bad but not my style either.
2005 Spatlese Trocken - Nose of citrus, slate and some nuts. Ripe, clean, strong and crisp palate. Really gives of the impression of a severely dry wine. As you can see by my description I loved it. Really concentrated and dense.
2005 Kabinett Halbtrocken - A perennial favorite of mine. This has citrus and minerals galore on the nose with a juicy, ripe palate impression that just exudes classy minerality and finesse. It does have that 2005 fat ripe profile but the acidity makes this just so juicy.
2005 Estate Kabinett - Nice elegant and floral nose. You can smell the depth. Ripe and juicy with wonderful inner mouth aromas and intense flavors of orange blossom. Very creamy texture with hints of sour strawberry on the finish. Even hints of red fruit like cassis.
2005 Estate Spatlese - Clean and ripe wine with excellent purity and focus but seems chiseled and "made" if you know what I mean. Many people will like this wine but not my cup of tea.
2005 Kiedricher Grafenberg Spatlese - My favorite bottling of the Weil portfolio. It has character and befits the Weil style very well. Gorgeous aromas of slate, orange blossom on a tautly structured frame with a beautiful harmonic convergence of acid, RS, fruit and minerality. Wonderful.
2005 Kiedricher Grafenberg Auslese - Minerally austere nose and seems particularly dry for an Auslese which led me to the conclusion that this wine is extremely dry. Palate is tangy and ripe with a wonderful delicate structure. Really purte and rich wine with apparently no botrytis. Very nice and one of the best KGA I have had from Weil.
2005 Kiedricher Grafenberg Berenauslese - My notes are not too descript fot this one as this was the last wine of a long day. It just says juicy, waxy, botryized and juicy. I liked it.
It was a nice visit and we later that night had dinner at a lovely restaurant that Weil actually bottles a special wine for. Next installment will be the brilliant sparkling wines from Volker Raumland.
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