WTN: 12 year old base level Riesling

Betsy had a rehearsal during day, came home for dinner and a nap, before she and Dave went back to Lincoln Center for an old friend's son's concert. So I was in charge of a tightly timed dinner, and didn't screw it up. I'd highly recommend Bittman's yakisoba with pork and cabbage:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/dinin ... ref=dining

OK, pork, cabbage, and ginger, that spells Riesling, correct? So I opened the 1998 Trimbach Riesling (Alsace). No, I didn't forget to say CSH or CFE. Nope, didn't mistype vintage. This is the base Riesling, about 9 years after release. It's actually shockingly vital. Good acids, strong Meyer lemon fruit, just a hint of wet rocks and petrol. OK, the finish doesn't have the length of its big brothers, but this isn't tired. Actually reminds me a lot of some low to midlevel German trockens I've had recently. Not a stunner, but no one could claim it was over the hill. Did well with the food. B

[David M. Bueker]

I'n not shocked that the Trimbach held up. It was probbly no better as an overall wine than it was in its youth, but as long as there is cellar space what the hell...

Yes, I think it was definitely more a "held up" than any obvious improvement. No cellar space required- I picked up for $8 on a lark recently. At that cost I figured it would interesting whether I liked or not, turned out to be a good buy.

[David M. Bueker]

Yes, I think it was definitely more a "held up" than any obvious improvement. No cellar space required- I picked up for $8 on a lark recently. At that cost I figured it would interesting whether I liked or not, turned out to be a good buy.

Good deal. Every time I think about buying more than 1 bottle of the "yellow lael" Riesling I stop myself, figurin the wine shop can store it for me.

I'm sitting on two Trimbachs, one of the aforementioned Yellow Capsules (2006) and one of the CFE (2001). I was going to pop 'em both soon mostly just to see if all of the hoopla regarding the CFE was deserved. Obviously there's a great disparity in vintage, but I'm thinking that given the age and rep of the CFE I should have my taste buds blown away by the bottle that costs the extra double sawbuck more, no?

[David M. Bueker]

Except that the 2001 CFE is very, very closed down right now. Blown away ain't happening, and even when open, CFE is not a blown away type wine. It's all about elegance, deep minerality and precision.

Except that the 2001 CFE is very, very closed down right now. Blown away ain't happening, and even when open, CFE is not a blown away type wine. It's all about elegance, deep minerality and precision.

Ok, blown away is not the right term. Surgical strike maybe? I'm guessing you would recommend sitting on the CFE? I probably won't but just curious if you think I'd be making a serious misstep.

I really like the 2001 CFE, but if I only had one I'd be really hesitant to drink it (assuming one has decent storage). I think it'll be a great wine in 5-10 years, but it's pretty shut down right now.