WTN: Schaefer and Gouges

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #16
This is fresh clear rocky riesling with delicate trembling shards of mineral slate. Great fun. And screwcap. Perfect for opening and drinking.

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #7
This is rounder and deeper with more material than in the #16. With some air it is plenty drinkable and is in the same salty slatey fruity vein as the #16, but always a bit rounder and deeper and not necessarily showing everything. Yet, I'm not sure if this one will have better development in the future because it is still a brisk kabinett? So for evolution I might look to a higher pradikat and for drinking now I might look to the #16. But I'm sure there is nothing wrong with any of these wines.

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #9
Another pure pleasure drink right now. Compared to the Domprobsts this is softer, lacier, fruitier, and more flowery, yet still with all the brisk mineral fun you need for drinking.

2001 Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux
A core of dark fruit is surrounded by a focused and firm frame, but nothing obtrusive about the tannins or the structure. It offered fine pleasure for what it was. Not that I have any idea what it will become.

1998 Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux
Deeper darker richer sweeter meatier fruit than on the 2001 and with firmer tannins, which might be considered obtrusive at times. That said, I still found this fun to drink right now. So sue me.

I have a few bottles of the Domprobst coming, but didn't realize there were 2 bottlings, I guess I'll see when I read the AP numbers! Thanks for excellent notes

I have a few bottles of the Domprobst coming, but didn't realize there were 2 bottlings, I guess I'll see when I read the AP numbers!

Who knows, there may be more than 2 bottlings! This was just what was available locally.

Also, the easy-to-spot difference is that the #16 is screwcap and the #7 is cork.

[David M. Bueker]

Isn't the Himmelreich screw cap as well?

Isn't the Himmelreich screw cap as well?

Not my bottle.

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting.

I have not yet taken delivery of my 2007 Schaefer's, so I do not know exactly what I am getting (don't recall which AP numbers I ordered).

For info: there are two Domprobst KT (#7 is indeed rounder) and two Himmelreich KT in 2007.

I am pretty sure that I have all of them under natural cork, which seems to suggest that both screwcap and crok versions must exist.

[David M. Bueker]

For info: there are two Domprobst KT (#7 is indeed rounder) and two Himmelreich KT in 2007.

I am pretty sure that I have all of them under natural cork, which seems to suggest that both screwcap and crok versions must exist.

This suggests and interesting opportunity.

two Himmelreich KT in 2007..

I just saw this on a list. Any idea how #2 compares to the #9 I tasted above?

#2 is the leaner of the two bottlings.

#2 is the leaner of the two bottlings.

Aha, even leaner than the #9. Sounds like it could be a 'real' kabinett!