WTN: 2001 Schmitt-Wagner Herrenberg Spätlese

Full name is 2001 Carl Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese, but that wouldn't fit in the title.

Either way, I felt compelled to open this after having the '06 Beerenauslese from this site and producer last night, and having just picked up a trio of bottles of this wine from Crush. Opened this with a colleague over and a dinner of black channa masala, chicken tikka and some stir-fried plantains on the side.

This is absolutely stunning wine, and pretty much everything I would want in a Mosel Riesling. Classical Mosel fruit - apple, pear and lemon - combined with fresh herbs, touches of earth and slate and gentle smoky and petrol notes that are just starting to emerge. It's one of those wines that needs some time and patience, unravelling its flavours with time rather than hitting you with everything in one shot, but the whole package is stunning with fantastic balance, precision, depth and length and I am glad I at least have two more bottles of this.

Hi Salil,
I bought mostly the Kabinett on release because it tasted like a "true" kabinett compared to most 2001 Kabs that I tasted and bought, enjoyed them over the years and just had the last of them last month. They have had a certain type of elegance, which I also understand from your note on the Spatlese --- lots going on, deep flavors, but still light and everything somehow stated in gentle tones. I see this as the same quality that makes JJ Prum so special. Just have a few Spat, and appreciate the reminder to take a look at one.
Charles

Salil -

Thanks for the great note. Haven't had much from Schmitt-Wagner, but it sounds as though this is showing beautifully right now.

I don't know producer well either, but thought the 2001 Auslese from same vineyard was very good, thanks for note

[David M. Bueker]

Only vineyard for Schmitt-Wagner.

Note, the vineyard has now passed to Carl Loewen due to retirement.

Only vineyard for Schmitt-Wagner.

then the title lines can get even shorter!
Is this retirement recent, I think I've seen 2006 or 2007 SW?

[David M. Bueker]

For the 2008 vintage it went to Loewen making the wines.

Loewen made the wines from 08 onwards, but the '08 Spatlese still had a Carl Schmitt-Wagner label (and IIRC, the '09 did too).