Saar 2005 - where were you when...
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:53 am
After tasting through a good part of Zilliken's 2005 range, the professor expressed the feeling we had like this: when our grandchildren ask us where were you when Zilliken unveiled his 2005 collection I can say I was right there at his table, tasting these legendary wines just befor bottling, straight from the cellar...
I'm still kindof speechless over what I saw. There is no Saar vintage in history that we know of that can compare to the Saar's 2005. At least Zilliken cann't think of one, and obviously neither can I. He made a bit of QbA and Kabinett, all of which ismade mostly from Auslese must. Then, he made
Spätlese (reglar & Auction)
Auslese (reglar & Auction)
Auslese GK (reglar & Auction)
Auslese LGK (reglar & Auction)
Beerenauslese (reglar & Auction)
Trockenbeerenauslese (reglar & Auction)
and not just a few bottles here and there. No, whole fuders of GKA and LGKA and such, enough to last for a long long time...
What happened was that the grapes were perfectly ripe, aromatic, and well balanced, when bortrytis set in, and warm dry wheather, which dehydrated the grapes much faster than the assimilation could reduce the acids. The result are fuders over fuders of hyperconcentrated juice, with unprecedented sugar and acid readings, producing wines that will outlive us all. The regular GKA for example would be enough reason to praise the 05 vintage as a great one. THe balance and concentration reminds one of ice wine supercharged Auslesen, but there is no ice wine in this at all. It is a great Saar wine, yet here it is almost the entry level. We tasted the "regular" wines up to TBA, plus the auction TBA. Those look like immortal wines to me. What can time possible to to them? Maybe I live to see the GKA reach its peak, but what shall I drink in the meantime, I wonder?
Peter
I'm still kindof speechless over what I saw. There is no Saar vintage in history that we know of that can compare to the Saar's 2005. At least Zilliken cann't think of one, and obviously neither can I. He made a bit of QbA and Kabinett, all of which ismade mostly from Auslese must. Then, he made
Spätlese (reglar & Auction)
Auslese (reglar & Auction)
Auslese GK (reglar & Auction)
Auslese LGK (reglar & Auction)
Beerenauslese (reglar & Auction)
Trockenbeerenauslese (reglar & Auction)
and not just a few bottles here and there. No, whole fuders of GKA and LGKA and such, enough to last for a long long time...
What happened was that the grapes were perfectly ripe, aromatic, and well balanced, when bortrytis set in, and warm dry wheather, which dehydrated the grapes much faster than the assimilation could reduce the acids. The result are fuders over fuders of hyperconcentrated juice, with unprecedented sugar and acid readings, producing wines that will outlive us all. The regular GKA for example would be enough reason to praise the 05 vintage as a great one. THe balance and concentration reminds one of ice wine supercharged Auslesen, but there is no ice wine in this at all. It is a great Saar wine, yet here it is almost the entry level. We tasted the "regular" wines up to TBA, plus the auction TBA. Those look like immortal wines to me. What can time possible to to them? Maybe I live to see the GKA reach its peak, but what shall I drink in the meantime, I wonder?
Peter