WTN: Menage a Riesling (Schäfer-Fröhlich, Schneider, Ridge)

[David M. Bueker]

2004 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (3/28/2009)
Surprisingly open, but also undeveloped and youthful. Very fine fruit and good balance, with more of a feinherb sweetness. Very enjoyable.

2007 Weingut Jakob Schneider Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (3/28/2009)
Red berries and peaches! This is all youthful fruit and friendliness. It may not have the "breed" of a Donnhoff version, but it's a joy to drink.

2000 Ridge Syrah Lytton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (3/28/2009)
This is certainly Ridge, with all that buttery oak, and very balanced fruit. The one quibble may be that it tastes a little too generic. I would have been hard pressed to identify this as Syrah versus say one of their fine Zins.

Shocked at how well that 04 showed - the few I've had recently have all been tight and inscrutable.

That Schneider is just an incredibly delicious wine (and now that note makes me feel like breaking into one of my bottles soon) - the last bottle I had was all about really delightful fruit with great balance and got emptied very quickly.

And meanwhile... you're drinking Syrahs with 'buttery oak' and not complaining? Where's the meat (or leather)?

[David M. Bueker]

You did notice my quibble didn't you?

Yup. I'm curious - is that buttery oak component something you've seen in a lot of other Ridge Syrahs? And if so, what happens to those wines with age?

[David M. Bueker]

A lot of other Ridge Syrahs? That buttery element is classic Ridge. It's the same in the Zins. Geo T. calls it the "Draper Perfume" and refers to it as buttered popcorn. Call it a blind spot in my tastes.

2004 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese..Very fine fruit and good balance, with more of a feinherb sweetness. Very enjoyable..

I had the 2004 WG Portz Spatlese last night and it was refreshing to have something with that balance and structure profile after recent vintages.

[David M. Bueker]

I'm very glad to have a lot of 2001, 2002 and 2004 in the cellar.