WTN: Von Treppchen

[David M. Bueker]

• 2001 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/7/2020)
  My last bottle a year ago was “monumentally good.” How do you go higher? Well, wait a year, and open another. It still shows that penetrating depth and intensity of flavor that so characterized the best of 2001. Mellowing from the uber-richness of the vintage into a more feinherb balance, it is delicious on its own, as well as with food. Based on how it’s showing at age 19, it should easily slide into immortality. One bottle left to check that theory.

What are you, the Highlander? How do you propose to test for immortality?

[David M. Bueker]

There can be only one.

Was reading last night about Riesling's ability to age. Your post with a 19yo wine is encouraging to me. I have a 2013 Riesling and a few 2018s. Planning to let most of them age for a few years....

That's the plan.

[David M. Bueker]

Depends on the Riesling.

Of course, Riesling Guru. Do you have guiding principles to assign drinking windows? If you do, would you be willing to post or PM those?

Here to learn. And my respect for Riesling as a choice is growing.

[David M. Bueker]

Tell me what you’ve got here, and I shall dispense eternal wisdom.

Not the more impressive juice often discussed here, but it is what I chose.
Please excuse imports/caps. Threw in all of the incoming Bedrock just for fun!

Already in stock:
RASA VINEYARDS RIESLING COLUMBIA VALLEY, WA 2013
BEDROCK RIESLING CENTRAL COAST, CIENEGA VALLEY 2018

Incoming fall 2020:
2019 Evangelho Heritage Wine Contra Costa County
2019 Old Vine Zinfandel California
2019 Wirz Vineyard Old Vine Riesling Cienega Valley
2019 Compagni Portis Heritage Wine Sonoma Valley
2019 Staves of Waidhofen Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Valley (I doubt you ordered this one!)

Yours and any other comments/inputs/etc. are welcome.

[David M. Bueker]

Oh...I thought you meant that you had German Rieslings.

Never heard of the Rasa. Probably a candidate for drinking up. The 2018 Bedrock Riesling is a drink anytime in the next 2-5 years wine. Some might age it longer, but its youthful fruit is its best attribute. Same for the 2019.

Have certainly had German Rieslings, just none in the cellar right now.

LWS has the following that look interesting in a frugal-type price range:

Fritz Haag 2018 $18

Carl Loewan Longguicher 2018 Kabinett Riesling $19

Hexamer 2016 Riesling Quartzit, Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling
Nahe $19

And I'll throw another in:

Wagner Stempel 2018 Pinot Blanc Rheinhessen $19

[David M. Bueker]

I can heartily endorse the Loewen. The Hexamer is excellent as well.

Both wines added to potential buy list. Which needed an update, anyway.

Cheers!

[David M. Bueker]

FWIW, I have not sampled Wagner Stempel in years, but I have a sample pack coming this fall.

Not sure if it's just a concidence of which producers have access, but Treppchen is one of the most consistently delicious vineyards I know, regardless of style.

[Jenise]

Of course, Riesling Guru. Do you have guiding principles to assign drinking windows? If you do, would you be willing to post or PM those?

I'm not a guru of anything let alone Riesling. But I know this: there are no generalities about German rieslings that would apply to American rieslings. They play by entirely different rules and are made for an entirely different market, so what you ask of Dave for the wines you have isn't possible.

So much as I admire RASA, at 7 years out your Composer, I think the name is, is pushing the limits for American white wines. If you open yours today and it shows anything even close to the tasting note someone posted on CT in June 2017, you'll be very lucky. Since the winemakers are the great Billo and Pinto it's not going out on a limb to say you are likely to be lucky, but I wouldn't gamble on holding this wine much longer.

I can heartily endorse the Loewen. The Hexamer is excellent as well.

Spot on David, Hexamer is a regular feature in my cellar.

[David M. Bueker]

Not all American Riesling has a short shelf life. Navarro makes a couple of late harvest cuvées that can go decades. They are the exception of what is being made today.

[Jenise]

True, re Navarro. Like Stony Hill for chardonnay. There's almost no one else like either of them.

Of course, Riesling Guru. Do you have guiding principles to assign drinking windows? If you do, would you be willing to post or PM those?

I'm not a guru of anything let alone Riesling. But I know this: there are no generalities about German rieslings that would apply to American rieslings. They play by entirely different rules and are made for an entirely different market, so what you ask of Dave for the wines you have isn't possible.

So much as I admire RASA, at 7 years out your Composer, I think the name is, is pushing the limits for American white wines. If you open yours today and it shows anything even close to the tasting note someone posted on CT in June 2017, you'll be very lucky. Since the winemakers are Billo and Pinto I'm not going out on a limb to say you are somewhat likely to be lucky, but I wouldn't gamble on holding this wine much longer.

FWIW, Jenise, I asked Pinto about drinking windows for each Rasa. For the Composer he noted through 2021. CT listed to 2023, but I'm going with Pinto's advice.

[Jenise]

Good move. Drinking windows on CT are an average of best guesses, some by people not qualified to voice them. I pretty much ignore those numbers and look for well-written reviews for the best assessment of where a wine is and is going. But as I said, a review in 2017 on your wine sounded like peak performance. Doesn't mean it's dead by now, could even be in a more profound place with an extra three years of bottle age.