WTN: Stumbling up the Himmelreich

[David M. Bueker]

2005 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett
I really wanted to like this, but despite a lovely start, it has a huge hole in the mid-palate where any amount of slate-infused depth should be. It's disarmingly soft (ah 2005, ye of inadequare acids), and overall sort of watery. Very disappointing. Maybe it's closed, or too warm, or too cold, or it's a root day. Maybe all of them at once.

I assume it wasn't always that disappointing when younger?

[David M. Bueker]

Last I had it I was deep in the process of recovery from my little bump on the head, so no meaningful impressions. Salil liked it though.

I am less and less of a fan of 2005 as time goes on. It's too close to the meager acids of 2003 for my comfort.

I am less and less of a fan of 2005 as time goes on. It's too close to the meager acids of 2003 for my comfort.

Interesting. I don't drink very widely in the vintage and the only wine I've been really following is the Vollenweider WG Auslese and my recent bottle from earlier this summer was actually much nicer and better defined than bottles from previous years. I still have a couple left and will see what happens. But that is of course only one wine.

[David M. Bueker]

Daniel did an amazing job in 2005. Of course he does an amazing job nearly every year.

Interesting. I don't have this (but a couple other Willis, a GD Spats) but have been mostly leaving 05s alone.
While I'm usually a Kab guy, I think I bought more Auslese than usual in 05, we'll see, but I probably won't try for a while. Thanks for notes