WTN: Garage Saumagen and Fürst Spätburgunder

I am a big Koehler-Ruprecht fan, so I was intrigued to learn about the post-KR 'garage' project where Bernd Philippi retained a portion of the KR Saumagen and made wine together with Stefan Knipser. So I was happy to drink 2017 Saumagen GBR Kallstadter Saumagen Spätlese trocken and find a different interpretation of the vineyard from what I know chez KR.

Brighter fresher juicier and more green herbal notes than I typically get from the KR Saumagen Spätlese trocken. But, this is not a thin wine. There is juicy body, oily richness and fine layered depth. It is showing a bit of evolution but I'm sure it has more room to develop. Bravo.

Also, why not compare 2021 and 2022 Fürst Bürgstadter Berg Spätburgunder 1G.

Both very nice wines in their own way and both benefit from some air to fill in. When the 2021 is revved up, it shows some nice silky texture with dark woodsy flavors and gorgeous perfumed elegance on the nose. Definitely on the aging curve, but still plenty of life left. A delicious drink now, but maybe not something to stockpile?

But the 2022 has the extra gear and is sooo sexy. Rich deep fruit with layered liquid velvet/silk texture, but also plenty of fresh energy. Great combination and so attractive. Hard not to want to keep drinking in the future

[David M. Bueker]

I do like those Fürst wines. I just have to remind myself that they are the quality level of good 1er cru Burgundy when I see the prices.

I do like those Fürst wines. I just have to remind myself that they are the quality level of good 1er cru Burgundy when I see the prices.

That's a good point. The 21 Bürgstadter Berg 1G was 56 euros and the 22 was 58 euros, which I think is a fine price and good value for the quality. But the GGs are 100-170 euros, which is more than I mentally allocate to a bottle of Spätburgunder, so I've been debating whether to buy.

That said, if you think about it as 1er cru Burgundy, it does make more sense, and I'm sure the quality is there. But I'm still not sure if I want to pay that much!