1963 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kronenberg Riesling Auslese
Awesome stuff. The bottle was in amazing condition (reasonably high fill for its age, spinning capsule, cork coming out almost in one piece though quite wet), and the wine was really gorgeous with all sorts of herbal, forestal/earthy, tobacco and citrus peel flavours with touches of honey and caramel. Started a little light at first, but gained weight and depth with air (was able to follow it for about half an hour with a couple of glasses before I had to leave) while keeping really good precision with a nice jab of acidity underneath and really good length. For what's supposed to be a weaker/wetter vintage in Germany, this was fantastic.
1966 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kronenberg Riesling Auslese
Came across a lot more youthful than the '63, showing a lot more density and power with the honeyed flavours much more prominent and rich orange peel, cooked pear and citrus flavours underneath. With some air some more earthy, smoky and faintly spicy elements emerge, though this didn't show the same complexity or elegance as the '63, feeling a bit fatter and rounder. (Apparently after an hour this really opened out and improved further, I wasn't around though.) Still very tasty and a great experience, and I had no problem drinking a couple of glasses of this either!
After that headed to Szechuan Gourmet again to have dinner with Gene Vilensky and Jeff Grossman. Fantastic food as usual, with lots of really good pork dim sum to start, and a nice selection of mains between the lamb with cumin, stir-fried chilli chicken, twice cooked pork belly with leeks and a braised sea-bass (that I passed, not being a seafood eater).
2007 Pierre Gonon Saint Joseph
Best bottle of this I've had yet! Wild aromatics; such an intoxicating scent of black pepper, lavender, dark fruits and meat with faintly bloody elements emerging with more time. In the mouth really bright, clear fruit flavours packed with more pepper and iron-like notes, rich but balanced very well with really good acidity and fine, grainy tannins in the back end. Delicious stuff and I really should find more.
1997 Nigl Riesling Privat
Cooked and maderized.
2007 AJ Adam 'Hofberg' Riesling
I had gone through all my bottles too quickly, so very nice of Gene to pull a cork on this one! 'Trocken' (even if it's 12 g/l RS) the way I love it - incredibly rich, deep and layered with bright Mosel fruit, exotic floral notes, slatey minerals and faintly creamy/leesy notes starting to develop with some air. Good acidity underneath and fantastic balance and length. More proof that I don't have enough AJ Adam.
2003 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese
Romance in a glass - yup, TCA and the Portuguese menace destroy yet another perfectly good wine. (Really a shame as we were into the main courses by this point and this would have been ideal.)
2006 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett
Really impressive; one of the best Kabinetts I've had from '06 even though with the ripeness and alcohol (9.5%) it's much closer to a Spätlese. Bright citrus fruit, pear and mineral flavours that keep unravelling with air, with good weight and depth that make it a really good match for the spicier main dishes. Very well balanced with no shortage of acidity and a finish that kept getting longer with time.
2008 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spätlese 2-star
Very ripe and bright with lots of sweet tropical fruit, apple, peach and melon flavours mingled with floral elements and minerals. Really fun wine that showed very well served slightly cold, with the sweetness handling the heat of the food quite nicely and a long finish.
A very fun evening, thanks Gene and Jeff for your company over dinner and some lovely wines, and to Stephen, Chris and Joe for setting up that fairly impromptu tasting!
