WTN: Arnot-Roberts, Haart

Reinhold Haart 2002 Riesling Kabinett, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. Still mostly fresh fruit, but with the edges beginning to soften, and some savory and saline notes mixing intriguingly with the moderate sweetness. Very good, and a nice pairing with the NYT's recipe for curried butternut squash soup from last week.

Arnot-Roberts 2013 Sonoma Coast Syrah, Que Syrah Vineyard. What a terrific wine: a rocky, peppery nose; exuberant blue fruit, bacon-fat, meat drippings, and spice on the palate, which all makes it sound heavier than it was; to the contrary, it was light and lithe, framing all that flavor with some flowers, dancing in the mouth. Wow.

Reinhold Haart 2002 Riesling Kabinett, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. Still mostly fresh fruit, but with the edges beginning to soften, and some savory and saline notes mixing intriguingly with the moderate sweetness. Very good, and a nice pairing with the NYT's recipe for curried butternut squash soup from last week.

Nice call, nice match, and nice wine. A few years ago I bought a few bottles of 2002 Haart PG Auslese that were more advanced and dried apricotty than your kabinett. I was suspicious at the time and they probably were heat compromised.

Agree, lovely note on the Kabinett.

[David M. Bueker]

The Arnot sounds great. I have been offered it, but balked at the pricing.

I know what you mean, David -- it was the most expensive of the three bottlings of 2013 Arnot-Roberts Syrah I bought, and the only thing that's keeping me from going back for more (I do have two Que Syrahs left) is the price. But I got more pleasure out of that bottle than I've gotten from things that cost more, so no regrets at all.

That was my last 2002 Haart PG Kab, but I still have a Spätlese, as well as one each of the Spätlese and Auslese from 01, all purchased on release. Fingers crossed!