Karl H. Johner Blauer Spätburgunder "SJ"

14% alcohol. Moderately translucent and surprisingly youthful black cherry color with a slightly evolved hint of brick-red hue. Rather evolved, somewhat stinky and slightly malty nose that reminds me of a barley wine, follower by aromas of rose hip soup, some wizened black cherry tones, a little bit of crème de cassis, light leathery tones, an evolved hint of meat stew and a touch of sweet raisiny fruit. There seems to be a bit of reduction, lending the nose a …

Big Bottle Party RFU (Kate´s house and property, North Lüneburg Heath) : From DMG: this one shows why a large format is the best choice if you got a big cellar, my last bottle and clearly the best one, licorice nose, some tar, juicy black fruit, initially very fresh, young as young can be, fresh, rich, ripe tannin, therefore very well structured, enormous tension, mouthwatering still, in this format long life ahead, easily another decade! **(**+), around 92-94

Initially a bit reductive, but cleared up. Dark red berries, herbs, wood, some smoke, shellfish and iodine on the nose. The medium-bodied palate adds licorice, cranberry and oak spice, as well as decent acidity. Medium but noticeable tannins, long finish with the tannins and the acidity reasserting themselves. A well-balanced, complex and very gastronomic Pinot from the more oaky side of the spectrum. The once very prominent oak has now been integrated quite well, but some more time will hopefully …

We decanted the wine for 30 minutes before we poured the first glass and followed its development over a period of another two hours. It offered a stinky nose, with mixed berries, underbrush, dried leaves, spices, liquorice and a saline sea breeze/seashell component. On the palate the medium- to full-bodied, medium-complex wine showed red and dark berries, vegetal notes, spices, vanilla, liquorice and saline notes, with medium-level acidity, well-integrated, medium-level tannin, a good, creamy mouthfeel and superb length. I would …

Weekly tasting group RWP #130; Karl H Johner, Baden, Germany (@ WS) : In the bouquet cherries, raspberries and barnyard. On the palate juicy red berries, autumn impressions, herbs, firm acidity and drying tannin.

intense animally nose, pepper, tobacco, cassis, on the palate licorice, blackberries, strong elegance, with some time in the glass getting more structured, refinement, still young, long+ finish, needs some more years of cellaring, this SJ- wine of Johner needs 3+ years in the cellar, 88- 91+?

Monthly Tasting Group LTB 2014-03; Germany, Baden vs France, Burgundy (By AdB & WS) : The bouquet is mature with still some cherries, stone minerals, toast an barnyard impressions. On the palate mainly red berry fruits, minerals again, some sweetness and also a firm amount of acidity. A firm dose of oak. Ready now.

Best Bottle Dinner at The Steakhouse in Lachen. We drank this Karl H. Johner Blauer Spätburgunder SJ 2005 next to a Domaine A.-F. Gros Pommard 1er Cru Les Arvelets 2005. The Karl H. Johner offered red and some dark berry aromas, cherry, currant, cucumber, spices and a whiff of chocolate on the nose. On the palate the wine was fruity, with ripe red and dark berry flavours joined by spices, with medium-level acidity, medium-level ripe and well-integrated tannin, a good, …

rode kleur, met schroefdop! geur is mooi beheerst, licht fruitig, speels, lichtvoetig, hout is mooi in de wijn opgenomen, elegantie, zachtheid, mooie balans, verassend voor een duitse Spatb.

I decanted the wine for two hours, poured it back into the bottle and consumed it over two days. The wine offered a complex nose that kept changing constantly, starting-off stinky, with autumn leaves and apple, later adding sulfur, after a few hours followed by currant, herbs, spices and chocolate. On the palate the wine showed sweet mixed berries, blackberry, herbs, spices, milk chocolate and a hint of liquorice, with a bacon fat component on the backend. The wine had …