WTN: Prematurely old, young for its age

[David M. Bueker]

Two wines over the weekend - two different results:

2000 Trimbach Pinot Gris Hommage a Jeanne
Showing more than a little age, and in fact seeming oxidized to more than a small degree. (note that the cork was indeed a very ghostly blue) It has a dried orange rind quality, and while there are some interesting spice notes, it has none of the life I would expect from it at such a young age (for a high end Trimbach). Very disappointing.

1995 Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Auslese
Bright, lemony, supported by orange zest and fresh juice notes (think of getting a bit of orange spray in your face when you cut one open). There's more than a fair bit of slate here as well. Only moderately (if that much) sweet and balanced by fine acidty. Delicious wine, made even more so by being 1/3 the price of the Trimbach when purchased in 2011!

2000 Trimbach Pinot Gris Hommage a Jeanne
Showing more than a little age, and in fact seeming oxidized to more than a small degree. (note that the cork was indeed a very ghostly blue) It has a dried orange rind quality, and while there are some interesting spice notes, it has none of the life I would expect from it at such a young age (for a high end Trimbach). Very disappointing.

yikes! that makes me nervous - I guess I'd better try one of mine.

[David M. Bueker]

2000 Trimbach Pinot Gris Hommage a Jeanne
Showing more than a little age, and in fact seeming oxidized to more than a small degree. (note that the cork was indeed a very ghostly blue) It has a dried orange rind quality, and while there are some interesting spice notes, it has none of the life I would expect from it at such a young age (for a high end Trimbach). Very disappointing.

yikes! that makes me nervous - I guess I'd better try one of mine.

I opened mine due to a worrisome comment from a friend.

I cannot say enough good things about the (adjusted) pricing on those old Schmitt-Wagners. That 95 is lovely. Opened a bottle of the '01 last week and it was every bit as good as I'd expect.

Meanwhile, Trimbach's corks suck.

Hi David -

Thank you for the interesting notes. Too bad about the Trimbach Hommage. I very greatly appreciate you warning me about it, because I almost certainly would have bought this wine if someone decided to close it out. Now, I'll definitely pass on this cuvee/vintage.

Ok, I took one of my Trimbachs to dinner last night with 7 other people (we were tasting 09 red burgs) - and the bottle was great! I held a glass up in front of a light to see color and it was fairly light. I told the group of David's report on the Hommage aging too quickly and they all agreed that my bottle seemed youthful. So it must be a per bottle thing. Or a result of that glacial cellar.

[David M. Bueker]

My newest theory is bad handling by the distributor.

Thanks David for notes, and thank Maureen for counterpoint - a little less worried re my HdJ PGs now, though I may open soon.
Funnily, I opened a '96 CSH that was premOxed, pretty sure it came through Mass.