Riesling-Tour: KELLER

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On the afternoon then the climax of our trip, the visit of the estate Keller in Flörsheim-Dalsheim (Rheinhessen). It has been a memorable event. First visiting the vineyards........Hubacker, Kirchspiel and Abtserde.
Then a tasting of the 07 portfolio incl. cask samples of the Grand Cru Rieslings. At the evening a BBQ with fresh sea-food from Norway transported by plane from David Rayer incl. delicious sides from Julia Keller. In addition outstanding burgundies and a breathtaking Keller Auslese “Hubacker” from 1953.

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Hubacker


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Kirchspiel


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soil of Kirchspiel


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Abtserde


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old part of Abtserde


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Tasting


07 Riesling QbA
A well-made Estate Riesling. Subtle fruit and shows a fine minerality. Blossoms, herbs, Granny Smith Apples and some lemon&grapefruit


07 “von der Fels”
BUY, really a strong recommendation! Shows Grand Cru Quality or what we call "Großes Gewächs" in Germany. Impressive precision, balance and what a stunning refinement. A steal for 13-14 Euro. You will find this Riesling at DeeVineWines in San Francisco
http://www.dvw.com


07 RR
Very lush fruit with a deep mineral core. You also taste the terroir "Rotliegendes". 11g sugar.
Needs some more years in the cellar. Cool stuff!


07 Kirchspiel GG
A cask sample, open since 1 week in a bottle and was unbelievable fresh and in perfect condition. "Kirchspiel" is always my favourite Riesling from Keller, as I admire the racy mineral elegance, finesse and play of this wine. Gorgeous precision and refinement in the structure. Will certainly suprpass the outstanding 06 version. But we will see more in september, when the Riesling will be released.


07 Hubacker GG
Max Gerstl is right, 07 Hubacker is such sexy. Creamy burgundy-like texture with some exotic fruits. Hubacker is always a bit baroque. Absolutely seductive!


07 Morstein GG
Very closed in my view. Cask sample from the morning. Typical Morstein, a Power-Riesling with this unique mix of fruit&minerality. Will be released next year April.


07 Abtserde GG
Wonderful filigree with a feminine elegance. Blossoms, herbs and a sublime minerality as a backbone. Great Potential! For me a little G-MAX.


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07 G-Max
The best dry german Riesling, period.Breathtaking BALANCE and minerality.


07 Abtserde Spätlese
Fine, fine, fine........danced like a primaballerina on my palate. An auction wine.


07 Abtserde Auslese
The perfect end of a memorable tasting. This Auslese has addiction potential! Candied fruits and such fresh&vivid. Also an auction wine. BUY


Conclusion: Every Riesling was a masterpiece and the tasting clearly proved that 07 is an outstanding vintage at the estate Keller. Rieslings with a long-aging potential and amazingly presented their terroir.
If you´re looking for more information about the estate and the vineyards, please download the terrific report from John Gilman about Keller (pdf-file) . http://keller-wein.de/

Jeeh, so you are saying that after all the Riesling I bought last few months I still miss the best ones......
Great report and I will be on the look out for these wines.

Can you just buy this Keller G-max at the estate? If I would be interested in his GG's should I mail him and make a reservation or is is not so easy?

Come on, Felix. Emrich-Schönleber "Halenberg" GG needs not to hide to G-MAX.

It is very, very difficult to buy G-Max. Not possible at the estate and only 1-2 bottles limited for special customer at german wine-shops.
Only 1000-1500 bottles are produced. I have heared that DeeVineWines will offer maybe G-Max. But take into consideration that the wine is
expensive in Germany, too. Around 100 Euro.

Well Martin, maybe if you can get a bottle we can do a tasting once

Hi Martin,
I think von der Fels is impressive, but it should be said that it does show quite a significant RS. It's bordering on "harmonic dry" so to speak... The basi QbA is dryier, and strongly recommended. The GGs, as far as I have tasted them, are also drier than von der Fels. I found that I prefer Kirchspiel over Hubacker for the dry wines, but the other way around for the sweet wines. Abtserde is the best of both worlds though, dry or sweet.

Peter

Interesting Peter, I read this also in another report that 07 "von der Fels" has RS. But surprisingly I didn´t noticed it. Mr. Dönnhoff found a nice phrase for such kind of wine "ein Wein zum Nüchtern-Saufen".

Well Martin, maybe if you can get a bottle we can do a tasting once

I have G-Max in my cellar, BUT ask me again in 10 years.

This Riesling has such a long life, maybe better to open in 15 years.
There is no historical aging experience with this wine, as the first release was 2001.