WTN: Saalwächter x 2

Hanging out in Berlin, why not buy a few bottles of Saalwächter, since their buzz is hot and my own previous tastings are fuzzy in the recesses of my brain.

2020 Saalwächter Silvaner Grauer Stein. I was excited to taste this, bottle 207 of 1352. Obviously not a lot of them around. But unfortunately it didn’t click for me. Rich oak on the nose followed by sleek sour green body. Not a combination that clicks with me. I followed it over 2 days and it did have its moments, gaining structural integrity with air, and going nicely with dinner. But not my favorite Silvaner interpretation and maybe the Alte Reben Silvaner would have been a better choice for today.

2019 Saalwächter Assmannshäuser Höllenberg Spätburgunder. This was more convincing. Deep dark firm and silky, which is an impressive series of attributes. At the same time, it is juicy young Spätburgunder that performs very well at the table. I didn’t love the dark slightly spicy flavors at this point, but that’s often a crapshoot. The structure is impressive and I plan to explore these further.

[David M. Bueker]

Not familiar with them.

In the US, source | material did a few breathless offers, but the buzz is also building in Germany. The Spätburgunders but also this ambitious Silvaner and some ambitious Chardonnays that some people like, but I'm not yet running to purchase given the high cost and the fact that there are so many other wines around!

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks.

I dropped off the Source|Material email blasts. Just don’t need more new stuff. A couple of the wines have been good, but Dentice and I have very different palates.

Yes, I don't quite know how to depict RD's palate (aside from natural-friendly), as he seems to like a range of things. But maybe because of that, it's also tough to predict whether I will like any given wine he promotes. And then of course the usual issues with sales speak.

But, since we're talking about source | material new producers in a thread with an ambitious silvaner. Peter Leipold (Franken) is one of their producers who makes silvaner that I very much appreciate. Strong fruit, strong structure, bold but crisp and delineated. On the bold side of my preferences, but they nonetheless make me excited about silvaner. Although apparently Saalwächter and Vetter have that effect on others.. I guess the world spins with variety...

[David M. Bueker]

My favorite Silvaners are from Dirler-Cade in Alsace and then Weltner in Germany.