Hexamer
2009 Hexamer Sauvignon Blanc
Yes, Sauvignon Blanc. I was taken aback as well. It’s certainly Sauvignon. It’s grassy and also quite minerally. If you like austere Sauvignon then this might be for you. I don’t like Sauvignon, so not for me. Good though.
2009 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Trocken ‘Non Plus Ultra’
I liked this for its stony focus with tinges of apple and citrus fruit around the edges. Good+
2009 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling ‘Quartzit’
A welcome trend in 2009 is a drier style to some of the popular QbA wines (I hear that Leitz Dragonstone is drier than in recent past but it was not available). This shows more focus and less mouth-coating sweetness than in past years. It reminds me of the 2001 and 2002 versions, both of which I drank a lot of. Very good
2009 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Kabinett
Very bright and lively. This has some of that 2001 zing! Quite floral and a very pretty and tasty kabinett. Excellent-
2009 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spatlese*
Lots of zip here – a good acid kick on the finish. Sweet but finishes with so much zing that it ends nearly dry. Lots of ripe tree fruit here. Very good+
2009 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spatlese**
If you like big, rich spatlese that has some real finishing zip rather than the cool richness of an auslese then this is for you. It’s a big boy, and there’s lots of mid-palate richness, but also real finishing cut. I liked it a lot. Excellent+
2009 Hexamer Schlossbockelheimer In Den Felsen Riesling Spatlese**
Take a wine similar to the above & add some spice. It’s rather kaleidoscopic in its complexity. I prefer the more lineral Rheingrafenberg, but if you like a little hone and spice then this is probably more your wine. Excellent-
Jakob Schneider
The wines here are getting better and better. They are also good values.
2009 Jakob Schneider Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Trocken ‘Magnus’
Big and spicy. Very rich and dry but not austere. I like the palate richness. Excellent
2009 Jakob Schneider Riesling Kabinett (liter)
Bright and minerally. Not too sweet. Good value here. Very good
2009 Jakob Schneider Niederhauser Klamm Riesling Kabinett
Bright and peachy. Classic kabinett in style. Nice kick of acid on the finish. Very good+ and a top value.
2009 Jakob Schneider Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese
Elegant, stony, precise fruits – this is lip smacking delicious and not too sweet. Long finish – I like this better than the very fine 2007 version. Excellent
2009 Jakob Schneider Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Eiswein
This is an unctuous beast! Honey, spice and more richness than should fit in a glass. This is incredible – perhaps not the most focused Eiswein in history, but it is impressive and delicious! Outstanding
Donnhoff
2009 Donnhoff Riesling Trocken ‘Tonscheifer’
Very dry and loaded with tart citrus. Chalky finish. Very good
2009 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
I used to not be all that impressed with Leistenberg kabinett, but over the last several years it’s been impossible to ignore. So much mineral and precise, focused fruit. It’s a big wine for kabinett, but it never seems like anything but kabinett. Not sure how to explain that, but the wine is Outstanding.
2009 Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett
A different kind of mineral from the Leistenberg – perhaps smokier. I find the fruit more in the tree fruit mold than the Leistenberg’s citrus. Also very fine if not quite the precision of its sibling. Excellent
2009 Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese
Maybe my expectations for this wine were too high, but I was not as impressed as I wanted to be. It’s well balanced and shows its typical red fruit, but it’s almost too serene through the mid-palate. It does have a finishing kick, but for my it didn’t quite get there. Very good
2009 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese
Richer and sweeter than usual for Brucke. This is going to need some serious cellar time. I like the balance, but prefer my Brucke a touch leaner. Very good+
2009 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese
So here’s the fireworks! The only wine that eclipsed the Leistenberg in this group. It’s stuffed with flowers and stone and fruit and all the essence of Hermannshohle.The balance is perfect. Outstanding!
Kruger-Rumpf
My breakout performance among all the wines I tasted. This was a huge step up for the estate. The wines are still so inexpensive. If you have not tried these wines in the past (or even if you have) you need to try them in 2009.
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Trocken ‘Scheifer’
Tart, lemony and very dry. Good
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Dautenpflanzer Riesling Grosses Gewachs
A richer mouth feel than the Scheifer which makes its dryness seem less austere. This is impressive for how much stone and steel can fit in a glass. It’s like a liquid construction site. Very good
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Feinherb ‘Scheifer’
Floral, nutty and very crisp. I like the touch of sweetness (front palate only) to tame the austerity of the basic trocken. Still finishes very dry. Very good
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett
The rockets started to go off here. Very bright, but deep rather than just being a cut on the surface. It’s an interesting blend of lift and round. I love the dichotomy, and I love the wine. Excellent
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese
Lots of zing here. Mineral, spice and loads of citrus fruit. I did not write down a lot for my note, but I did use exclamation points for nearly every word. Don’t miss this wine. Outstanding!
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Binger Scharlachberg Riesling Spatlese
Rheinhessen vineyard now (in case you don’t know), and this is richer than the Dautenpflanzer, but carries more exotic and rich aromas and flavors. There’s the same zing/electricity though and it’s different but nearly as good. Outstanding-
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe Spatlese
Spicy and full of grapefruit and herbs at the same time. I wish for a touch more acid here. Very good-
2009 Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Auslese
This has all the electricity of the 2 spatlesen, but it’s buried under an avalanche of fruit, honey and ripe fruit. You don’t so much drink this as eat it, and it’s a delicious meal. Outstanding-
Schlossgut Diel
2009 Schlossgut Diel Riesling ‘Nahestein’
Very dry, but there’s some back-palate richness that keeps it from being too austere. Very good-
2009 Schlossgut Diel Riesling ‘Eierfels’
Nutty, herbal and again very dry. Very good-
2009 Schlossgut Diel Riesling Kabinett
Rich but lithe. It has some lift to give it a spring in the step. Seems like a big kabinett. Very good
2009 Schlossgut Diel Goldloch Riesling Kabinett
Big kabinett, but it has a lot of mid-palate brightness, so it’s not some heavy spatlese sold as kabinett. I find it more impressive than loveable though. Very good+
2009 Schlossgut Diel Pittermannchen Riesling Spatlese
Very floral and stony with loads of ripe fruits. This is delicious and engaging. Excellent
2009 Schlossgut Diel Burgberg Riesling Auslese
Impressive! This is a monster of an auslese that coats the palate and won’t let go. It’s not just rich though – there’s a ton of bright fruit in there. Excellent+
