German wine

I don't know much about German wines. What can you tell me about a bottle of 1983 Weber Bodenheimer St. Alban Spatlese?

[David M. Bueker]

Unfortunately not much other than it is likely dead.

[James Roscoe]

There is nothing else to do but drink it and find out. You never know what secrets a bottle holds until you open it. Have something else in reserve.

Unfortunately not much other than it is likely dead.

It probably is dead. I can't remember where I got it, but if it's one of several I obtained from a deceased gentleman, I can pretty much guarantee it wasn't stored properly, either. I'll chill it down and give a report.

Larry,
I just posted a note on a wine I was sure would be dead, and was very glad I tried it. David knows a tremendous amount about German wine, but he's never had this wine (much less this bottle), and is only making a pessimistic though probably correct guess.
So open it and be open to enjoying it. But have something else handy.

Charles

Bodenheim is in the Rheinhessen, but I've never heard of St. Alban. The soil here is rich and loamy, so the area makes bigger, less delicate wines to begin with. Weber is a huge jug wine maker best known for Liebfraumilch. I wouldn't put much hope the wine. Is there a grape variety printed on the label?


Prost!
-Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Larry,
David knows a tremendous amount about German wine, but he's never had this wine (much less this bottle), and is only making a pessimistic though probably correct guess.


Charles

Ah...but not quite. In 2003 we stayed in Bodenheim, and I visited a local tasting room or whatevber they call them. I tried about ten wines - quality was uninspiring to say the least. So it's at least a somewhat educated, pessimistic guess. (given that quality of wine has only improved (in general) since the early '80s.)

Bodenheim is in the Rheinhessen, but I've never heard of St. Alban.

St.Alban is the name for the grosslage.

I wouldn't put much hope the wine. Is there a grape variety printed on the label? -Bill

I'm not expecting much, but I have ascertained I didn't get the wine from the dead guy's "cellar," which means at least it was stored correctly.

Here's the complete label:

A Monsier Henri Selection
Solch edler Tropfenfreut den Becher, wie Gold erglanzt der Wein im Becher!
Rheinhessen
1983 Bodenhewimer St. Alban Spatlese
Qualitatswein mit pradikat
Bottled by Georg U. Karl, Ludwig Schmitt'sches Weingut niersyein/rhein.

Bottled by Georg U. Karl,

Must have been before he became an NBA basketball coach.
Charles

What David said. This is a regional wine (Grosslage), not from a single vineyard. While 1983 was an excellent year for German wines, the Rheinhessen is noted for ripeness and low acidity (compared to say the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) and so this wine probably never had the structure to stay fresh for over 20 years.

But you never know until you've tried it. By all means do so, but I'd have a backup bottle handy in case this one's dead.

-Paul W.