WTN: Wines we love - Schmitt-Wagner Auslese

[David M. Bueker]

• 1995 Carl Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Auslese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2/5/2025)
  Some wines end up being bigger than what is in the bottle. The first time I tried this wine, it was the original release from back in 1996 or so, and I had taken it to an offline at Tanglewood. There were a whole lot of wines, and all sorts of food, and conversations before the concert, but this one stuck with me. When Skurnik brought in a cellar release of this again in 2011 I jumped at the chance. First bottle in 2013 was delicious, and typically Schmitt-Wagner, with great presence without being a big wine.
  
  Somehow I didn’t open any more until tonight. Thirty year old wines are by their nature always a bit of a crapshoot, but this bottle was perfect. Moderate sweetness, evolved orange rind and apricot fruit, some of that stony, petrichor-esque aromatic touch that jumps away when you try to nail it down. It actually does remind me of the aroma that escapes when you fracture a piece of slate (yes, I have done that many times).
  
  Anyway, this bottle reminds me of events long past, friends scattered and some gone, and people gathering for wine, food, music and friendship.

Just saw this note. Don’t think I’ve had a 95 before, but it sounds great and makes me wonder how the 96 Auslesen are holding up/showing at this stage.

I still have some Selbach Oster, JJ Prum and Merkelbach auslesen from 96, I believe

[David M. Bueker]

I have started drinking the occasional 1996, and they seem to finally be past their weird stage.

David, I learned recently that Loewen bought a Maximiner Herrenberg vineyard planted in 1896 from the Schmitt-Wagner estate in 2008. Do you know whether your wine came from the old part of the vineyard?

[David M. Bueker]

Yes it did.

Nice notes. CT says I have a 97 LMH Spatlese, if true might be getting a little long in tooth.

[David M. Bueker]

Perhaps, though 1997 Mosels have generally shown excellent staying power.

I haven’t had many 96s and the bulk I have had have been from Selbach Oster, but I’ve been very impressed so far.

[David M. Bueker]

1996 went through a very odd/awkward stage about 10-12 years ago. The wines finally started to come back around in about 2021 or so.