WTN: Two trocken Rieslings

2008 Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Riesling Großes Gewächs
For me, one of the benchmark dry Rieslings; up there with Singerriedel, CSH, Donnhoff's Hermannshohle and Rebholz's Ganz Horn. Wild, intoxicating aromatics combining a spectrum of fresh Riesling fruit, minerality, herbal elements and more exotic smoky and truffled notes into an incredible scent; manages to convey tremendous intensity and power in the mouth with barely any sense of weight and amazing focus, energy and persistence; truly outstanding.

2009 Schäfer-Fröhlich Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs
Really suffered in contrast to the Rebholz Kastanienbusch GG; pretty aromatics with a bright florality, sponti yeast funk and ripe citrus and pear fruit, but on the palate it feels a little one dimensional, nicely balanced with ripe lemon and pear fruit over a stony mineral base and not much more going on. Not worth it at the price tag, and completely outclassed by the Rebholz.

[David M. Bueker]

Comparative price tags?

Crush had the Rebholz (both Ganz Horn & Kastanienbusch) at about $85 - best price I've seen in the US, and given how consistently those two wines have shown from several bottles I have no issues. Those wines (for my tastes at least) certainly live up to their hype and reputation.

The Halenberg was $60 and I think Schafer-Frohlich's basic Bockenauer trocken QbA is an equally good wine at less than half that.

[David M. Bueker]

And Donnhoff's Hermannshohle is about $50. Well I know where to spend my money - Trimbach CFE, still the reigning champion of dry Riesling, and available for under $40 (sometimes well under) if one is careful.

The GGs are a joke by comparison.

Yup, Donnhoff's Hermannshohle is certainly cheaper, but I've found the Rebholz style very unique and compelling - think I'm better off having both producers (and Hirtzberger's Singerriedel ) in the cellar. (And I do have more Rebholz at home that we should check into soon...)

Re. Trimbach, I like CFE a great deal but it's never hit the same heights as those wines for me (CFE VT on the other hand...) Though I couldn't resist Crush's offer last week for the '01.

[David M. Bueker]

For all the GGs I have tried (and Austrians as well), none have reached the level of CFE (or CSH, but that's too expensive).

Salil, please forgive my ignorance! From which region(s) do these two come?

Rebholz is in Pfalz.

Schafer-Frohlich's in Nahe.

Hmmmm. I find the US prices a little strange in that the Kastanienbusch GG and Hermannshöhle GG are both 32€ here.

I'm at least glad to see some drop in his 09 pricing (down to the low/mid 70s from a pre-arrival offering that just landed today) - still high, but given the quality I'm still a buyer.

I just drank a 'mini-GG' at half the price of one:

Muller-Catoir, Pfalz, Haardter Burgergarten, Riesling Spatlese, Trocken, 2007

Wow, the nose is so explosive and articulate, with green apples and a bedrock of minerals (later on, there's an interesting and welcome hint of mint and other herbs). The palate is a formidable follow-up, with a juicy, green apple acidity and some lingering sweetness. And a long, saline finish. I usually prefer a sweeter style of German Riesling, but this is really a mini Grosses Gewaches. Simply a tasty wine with plenty of potential, even if it is somewhat aggressive at this time.

It's still pretty expensive here, 160 New Israeli Shekels translate into over 40 USD, but still, GG's cost twice as much here and it's hard for me to think of any whites that come close to its performance that are available locally at the same price.

Hi Salil -

Thank you for the notes. To echo the general ideas in this thread, the one Rebholz GG that I had was indeed outstanding, but they are getting to be quite pricey. In comparison, the Donnhoff GGs are relative bargains, as are GGs from Emrich-Schonleber, Keller,and others.

Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if the 2010s are offered for less than other recent vintages have been.

Chaim,
I'm with you on the Bürgergarten. It is normally the Riesling most to my liking of the 'Terroir' offerings from M-C, but the Herrenletten comes close. The pricing seems steep, but that might be in line with imports to Israel.

Andrew,
I don't know who is banking the mark-up on Rebholz (could simply be that far more Dönnhoff is imported and a better price is offered for quantity) but I wouldn't guess that the 2010 price will be any lower from the Rebholz side of things. They will have produced far fewer cases of GG wine in '10 than normal. I've been hearing about major supply issues from the elite for the vintage. It is being called a cellar-clearing year around here.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if the 2010s are offered for less than other recent vintages have been.

Checked the dollar versus the euro lately? We're gonna get waxed on 2010s. I may pass entirely if I think the prices are out of range from the quality of the wines.

Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if the 2010s are offered for less than other recent vintages have been.

Checked the dollar versus the euro lately? We're gonna get waxed on 2010s. I may pass entirely if I think the prices are out of range from the quality of the wines.

Hi David - Point well taken. Actually, I was thinking more along the lines that retailers might have to mark these down a few years from now to clear them out, given that 2010 is certainly not going to receive the same attention here as 2009, 2007, 2005, and 2001 did. Anyway, maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I have found a lot of "unwanted" treasures on closeouts over the years. Maybe in 2015 or so, some retailers will be anxious to get rid of their 2010s, and still have some good stuff left over.

If you pass on 2010, you probably won't be alone. I'll try to find a few relative values and sleepers from 2010, but this won't be a vintage that I buy as much of.