Weingut Okonomierat Rebholz, Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Riesling GG, Pfalz

corked

From a 375 ml bottle. Took 2+ hours in the decanter to start to open up. Very promising but needs a few more years to hit its stride.

Very minerally nose, not expressive like the Dr Wehrheim Kastanienbusch. More structured, longer I think, lime acid, long. Huge tension in the mouth. Thyme flavour and smell. Super long and minerally as it warms. Very savoury. When freshly poured, there is lemon. Savoury and complex. 94+ Plus 1 day. Has improved more. More lemon, intense acid and drive. Minerally. My favourite when cold but lost a hint of length and drive when it was warmed. 95. Plus 2 days. Really …

not blind For a 2006 lean and well structured but still broad and dominated with ripe peaches but the existing acidity helps him to survive. Just passed his Peak, well drinkable. 90

Deep golden colour, with hints of amber. Powerful nose with fried apples, stewed apricots, spice, petrol notes, and other developed notes. Medium bodied+ with fried apples and apple compote, some apricots, good acidity, pepper and other spice notes, rather noticeable alcohol, and an aftertaste with apples and spice. Fully mature, 90 pts. At 14.5% alcohol this is a bit on the alcoholic side for a German Riesling, and it shows, which has cost this wine a point or two in …

copper color. Extremely dry with marked acidity. Seems a little shut down now. Austere on its own, but worked very well with food. Very good effort from challenging year. Cellared since original release.

A complex nose of riesling-fruit, minerality and mushroomy nuances. Dry and creamy wine with a somewhat slyly rising acidity. White flowers, herbs, lime and gooseberries. Chestnuts and mushrooms in the long finish. An intriguing wine.

A private dinner (Restaurant Gästehaus Klaus Erfort ***, Saarbrücken, Germany) : Full colour; still a bit closed, creamy honey and rich yellow fruit; rich fruit, spicy Rotliegendes, rich and juicy, highish acidity; excellent length, excellent achievement in 2006.

Terroir-istes International - Germany, Riesling plus 3 outsiders (Rodwell House) : Medium yellow to greener edges showing some time in bottle. Terpenes, mineral, smoke, tomato box and honeysuckle confirm yet there is some pleasant blossom notes and floral tones that add interest. The entry is grippy with riverstones, some phenolic grip but lacks a little bit of acid., Medium finish. The alcohol feels warm (14.5). Hot year with it low acid?

2007 German Dry Wine Tour w/Rudi Wiest (The Wine Country, Signal Hill, CA) : (Large generic Riedel tasting glasses) WOW! Big lime-y nose. Huge, laser focused clean fruit with strong rocky/slate/mineral qualities. Cannot emphasize enough the quality of the fruit. Very good acid and a long clean complex finish. Another stunning dry Riesling and a great young winemaker. Winemaker indicated at least 5-10 years aging potential.