WTN: 2009 Koehler-Ruprecht Saumagen Riesling Spätlese

2009 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Spätlese Trocken –Pfalz, Germany 12,5% alc.

Koehler-Ruprecht has such a different approach from the rest of the Pfalz in general that it is hard to judge the wines against other German Rieslinge. All of the wines, be them Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, or Gewürztraminer share more in common with each other than they do with their counterparts from other producers. The K-R style has many fans, but probably just as many detractors. For me, that is a sign of something special.

Peach, honey, chamomile, sake, straw, smoke -almost like dry Furmint rather than Riesling. Creamy, full-bodied, extract-rich and complex with low acidity. In fact, if you are searching for modern, fruity, straightforward, crisp, clean-as-a-whistle Riesling, you had better look elsewhere. Koehler-Ruprecht is better described as Riesling that a Burgundy producer might make. Small old-oak casks, no acidification, no added yeasts or nutrients, no temperature control, and almost always fermented dry. Classic before there was such a thing.

Cheers,
Bill

Those K-R wines are truly unique. Forget Pfalz, I don't think anyone else in Germany or the Riesling-growing world is making wines like that. Wish they were still available here...

Hi Bill -

Thank you for the very interesting note. As Salil said, the Koehler-Ruprecht wines are no longer being imported here by Terry Theise. I think that the last vintage that he brought in was 2007 (anyone please feel free to correct me on this one) . I actually asked Terry about K-R at an in-store tasting a couple of years back, and he was really sad to have to drop them from his portfolio. I've only ever had a couple of the Rieslings - never managed to find the Pinot Noirs or anything else. Nonetheless, these were some really special wines.

Any news on the current situation with the estate, in terms of ownership?

I've had the Rieslings, of course, the Gewurtz, Scheurebe, even the Pinot Noir. I even tasted white Pinot Noir.

Salil, I saw a few 1998 Samugen "R"s!!! at BLM in Boston. I actually bought one at the store and drank it two years and it was excellent.

Any news on the current situation with the estate, in terms of ownership?

Yeah, KR is still owned by Bernd Philippi. The Kellermeister is now Dominik Sona who does an excellent job.

I was told that they are working with a couple of regional distributors in the US, though I can't for the life of me remember which ones.

Cheers,
Bill

I've had the Rieslings, of course, the Gewurtz, Scheurebe, even the Pinot Noir. I even tasted white Pinot Noir.

Salil, I saw a few 1998 Samugen "R"s!!! at BLM in Boston. I actually bought one at the store and drank it two years and it was excellent.

It is incredible that these wines can still be found on shelves in good stores. Any remaining inventory from the TT days should be in someones cellar!

Cheers,
Bill

My cellar has a good amount. The 2001 Samugen Auslese is drinking nicely.

My cellar has a good amount. The 2001 Samugen Auslese is drinking nicely.

Chaim, I would expect nothing less from you. You are clearly a man of exquisite taste in music and wine!

Very jealous, Chaim. Have not seen any of the Ruprecht wines around lately - came across a small parcel with some halbtrockens a couple of years ago, and already went through the bottles.

I do recollect having the 'R' Auslese trocken a couple of years ago at one of those Sichuan and Riesling dinners, and it was a remarkable wine that stood out from the crowd and one of the most memorable dry Rieslings I've had.

My cellar has a good amount. The 2001 Samugen Auslese is drinking nicely.

Chaim, I would expect nothing less from you. You are clearly a man of exquisite taste in music and wine!

Thanks. Now go click on some Google ads on my blog so I can afford some more wine!

Salil, there were still at least two bottles at BLM just three weeks ago. I wish I'd bought some, but there was no time to drink 'em and I had to save baggage space for my next stop at Chambers. If you were to make the trip and buy them and drink them, it's almost feel as though I was drinking them myself.

It doesn´t surprise me, I would assume the KRs are hard to sell, too idiosyncratic. But Saumagen (sow stomach) is a cool name, maybe with a funny label à la Kröver Nacktarsch...

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L