WTN: 2003 Karthäuserhof E.K. Riesling Kabinett

[Andrew Bair]

Couldn't fit the entire vineyard name into the Subject field. Anyway, I did not have high expectations for this wine given my recent experience with this vintage, but it ended it being a very pleasant “Spätlese”.

2003 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett
Nose of chalk, lavender, roses, oranges, and some light petrol. Off-dry, lightly crisp, medium to full-bodied, focused, moderately round, with racy acidity. Surprisingly elegant for 2003. Tastes of apples, blueberries, cherries, and ginger ale, with a delicate mineral spine. The 10% alcohol is well hidden. Good length. Very good/excellent.

[Jenise]

I've not had the 03 but own or have owned two other vintages, and the wines have been exceptional.

[David M. Bueker]

Top producer that has never really done it for me.

[MichaelB]

I’m witcha, Jenise. Andrew Bair’s post made me break out a bottle of ’04 Kabinett from the same producer (yeah, the vineyard name’s a mouthful) and it was excellent with haddock meuniere—chalk, acid, citrus and maybe nutmeg flavor.

But the corker—ha ha—was a 1981 spaetlese. I bought 3 bottles of this from Rimmerman and the first bottle was corked, so we didn’t expect much from bottle number two. Instead, it was one of the best German wines of all tang, and that’s no misprint. Bottle #3 is still in the cellar, and that might be a good thread here, the bottle that you anticipate / dread to open.

[Jenise]

But the corker—ha ha—was a 1981 spaetlese. I bought 3 bottles of this from Rimmerman and the first bottle was corked, so we didn’t expect much from bottle number two. Instead, it was one of the best German wines of all tang, and that’s no misprint. Bottle #3 is still in the cellar, and that might be a good thread here, the bottle that you anticipate / dread to open.

It WOULD be a good thread. I'll start it. That's where I got my Karthauserhofs, too, btw. Never saw the offer on the '81 go by, I can imagine how impressive that is.

Say, did you subscribe to the Garage Sale?

[Craig Winchell]

I really enjoyed the '71 Spatlese, or was it Auslese? Found it rummaging through Vertner Smith's warehouse in Louisville, late 1978. They had 2 cases left, in back of everything, pegged to the initial price whne it was purchased by them, so of course I bought them for the retailer for whom I worked. Loved the label as well. They still just have that thin little shoulder label?

[David M. Bueker]

They still just have that thin little shoulder label?

Yes, though for a brief period several years ago they dabbled with a more "normal" label. It was soundly rejected by consumers and the estate went back to just the neck label.

[Bill Hooper]

Thanks for the note Andrew. it sounds nice. A lot of my experience with Karthäuserhof has been limited to dry wines (which can be excellent), even in the US. Sometimes they release older vintages of sweeter Spätlese and Auslese for a steal though, and they can be amazing. I need to get back to Karthäuserhof and M. Grünhaus. I love the Ruwer (and Trier.)

Cheers,
Bill

[Andrew Bair]

But the corker—ha ha—was a 1981 spaetlese. I bought 3 bottles of this from Rimmerman and the first bottle was corked, so we didn’t expect much from bottle number two. Instead, it was one of the best German wines of all tang, and that’s no misprint. Bottle #3 is still in the cellar, and that might be a good thread here, the bottle that you anticipate / dread to open.

They still just have that thin little shoulder label?

Yes, though for a brief period several years ago they dabbled with a more "normal" label. It was soundly rejected by consumers and the estate went back to just the neck label.

As a matter of fact, this was indeed one of those with the undistinguished "normal" label. Glad that the neck label came back soon afterward.

[Andrew Bair]

Anyway, Michael - thank you for letting us know about those 1981s. Let's hope that the third bottle is much like the second.