WTN: Schafer Frohlich and Domaine Lafond

Yesterday was "distribution day." I often buy cases of things I think are bargains, then let others have a few bottles at cost. So yesterday I delivered some (comparatively) inexpensive Bordeax and some 1970s from an auction lot. One friend chose to pick up, and for him I opened the
2007 Schafer-Frohlich Monzinger Halenberg Spatlese. Whoa, a wild ride of a Riesling. Ripe pineapple and grapefruit, lots of candied ginger are my first impression. Nose gets very floral, palate eventually seems to have both citrus and red fruits,. Big, powerful, sweet but with solid acids. Very impressive. A-

The Riesling was a bit much for dinner (an assortment of leftovers from previous meals), so I tried a glass of the 2008 Lafond "Roc Epire" Tavel rose. Pleasant, meaty, strawberries and a little cherry koolaid, touch of flint on finish. We'll take leftovers to park tonight. B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency. 

I need to drink some Tavel Rose some time - that sounds very pleasant (first time I've heard of meaty elements in a rose... mmm).

I'm really impressed by the 07s I've tried from Schafer-Frohlich - his Goldkap was a bit too much for me in terms of the sulfur, but the reguler Bockenauer Felseneck and the Monzinger Halenberg Spats were stunning wines, particularly the Halenberg - like you, I found that flavour profile amazing; everything from exotic spices to tropical and red fruits and really good balance.

BTW, keep an eye out for the Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Spatlese if you see it. A touch pricier than the S-F, but that's an amazing wine. Between guys like Schonleber, Hexamer, Frohlich and Schneider - I think we're getting spoiled these days in terms of great Nahe wines.

[David M. Bueker]

What does not spoil us so much is the move by Schonleber and Schaefer-Frohlich to shoot for Donnhoff/Diel prices.

I am not saying that they are not equivalent quality, but just that one all top Nahe Spatlese is $45 or more I won't be buying Nahe Spatlese.

We have gotten there yet, but that's where it's headed.

Fair point, although I think SF's Spatlese are more reasonably priced than the others - for the 06 and 07 vintages I saw Crush was offering the Halenberg and Bockenauer Felseneck Spatlese in around the low 30s/high 20s for a case buy. I'm at least glad to see Donnhoff's prices dropping a little in the 08 vintage, hope the other big producers follow suit. I ended up buying none of the Donnhoff Spats in '07 due to the pricing - already chasing/purchased some 08s, and if Schonleber's prices are a bit lower as well I'll buy some.

What's irritating is that everyone's straight away producing $60-70 Grosses Gewachs to compete with the likes of Keller with very little track record for that style in some cases - and as that '06 Diel showed, some of those wines just seem grossly overpriced when you consider what's in the glass.

(That said, I saw the prices for some of the 08 Keller GGs - price are down about 20% on most of them from 07, which is nice to see.)

with very little track record for that style in some cases...

That's the way I feel but it seems like the notion of 'track record' for setting wine prices is becoming an old-fashioned notion.