On Easter-Saturday I had the pleasure to welcome David Schildknecht/WA in my home for a tasting together with Per Schondelmeier, Panos Kakaviatos, Uwe Bende, Tino Seiwert, Niko Rechenberg and the BerlinTastingGroup.

I have to say that I never met such a professional, humble and experienced wine-taster like David Schildknecht. Many thanks also to Per for his delicious Foie Gras Terrine, Uwe for his splendid generosity to bring such outstanding bottles and Tino Seiwert for his superb G-Max and his

bonmot´s.

This new version of Krug is not a big bold style Champagne like Bollinger.  Here we have a subtle, sublime style with delicate flavors of brioche and blossoms.  The flavours are only gently betoken.   Very elegant mouthfeeling and finesse pure.

Unfortunately, I have never drunken the old Cuvée, so I could make no comparison.  But this new version could be women´s darling!

92-93

2002 Dönnhoff, "Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle" Spätlese trocken, Nahe, Germany

Bouquet of peach with a fine underlying minerality.  Very reluctant Riesling and in a certain way he personify the character of the winemaker. Mr. Dönnhoff is also a very humble person.  Pure flavors of peach, pineapple with a phenomenal balance and precise mineral layers.  A Riesling which makes you addicted to the next glass.  I am wondering why he received such a relatively low scoring from my friends at this tasting, maybe based on the fact that this not wine which makes big noise or act big. For me, Riesling par excellence!

92-93

Here we have a completely different appearance. This Riesling comes with big steps and in this case we also could make some connections to the winemaker "Niewo" who is almost 2m high and could play as an quarterback in the NFL.  Winemaker with a lot of charisma and so is his wine. Bold, big style with opulent,powerful flavors of dried fruits with a hint of cinammon, clove and a supporting minerality as a backbone.  Balancing acidity, but I miss some complexity and he lacks of harmony. It looks like that he is in sleeping-mode right now.

91

Terrific elegant bouquet of blossoms and mineral layers from the limestone. On the palate a cool minerality with a splendid structure and flavors of blossoms, tobacco and herbs.  As always Kirchspiel shows play, finesse and elegance.

93-94

My friend Panos Kakaviatos said it all, the taste of this Riesling is like "stones after a spring rain".

Double-Decanted 9h before. Awesome bouquet of cool minerality.  Stones pure on the palate with a breathtaking complexity combined with creamy, big fruit and a  loooooong echo.  Or to quote another participant of this tasting, my danish friend Per Schondelmeier, "I could walk around with this fluid in my mouth all day. " Cellar potential for the next 20 years.

96-98+

Impressive mineral nose! In comparison to the Keller-wines he has more dimension due to the maturity. Powerful Riesling with a dominat minerality, earthy elements and flavors of matured apples. Limestone pure.  The finish is a little bit alcoholic.

93-94

Precise mineral nose. What a freshness and clarity this Riesling offers, shocking stuff! Harvested without boytritis. Deep long-lasting minerality and laser-focused racy fruit flavors. The "Strahlkraft" of this Riesling is breathtaking. Superb!

98-99

A legend! First, it is an unique Riesling and I have never discovered such a kind of stylistic in a german Riesling before. Comparable only with Clos St. Hune. "This Riesling explodes in the mouth!" The bouquet presents a smoky minerality. On the palate very, very powerful with flavors of smoke, tobacco, pears, honey,spice and some creamy elements. Again this heavy smoky minerality which almost hurts you. Unbelievable finesse, density and depth. And the finish never ends.........

100

Just one word, NEPENTHE.  Floral-driven Riesling with a dense, deap-seated minerality. No big fruit flavors at the moment, but what a length and depth. At this high level a description makes almost no sense, you have to taste it to believe it. This is one of these wines you could sit a whole night and discover new facets, layers after every sip. This Riesling is out of this world!

96-98+

2003 Breuer, "Nonnenberg", Rheingau, Germany

cork!

1990 Koehler-Ruprecht, "Kallstadter Saumagen" Auslese R trocken, Pfalz, Germany

cork!