From all of us at Dr. Loosen, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for all of you who enjoy our wines.
Wishing you all the joys of the season and a very happy New Year. Cheers!
Archive for December, 2010
Cheers!!!
Friday, December 24th, 2010Houston Rodeo Wine Show Medals Dr. Loosen
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Cowboy up, wine peeps!
This…just in from Loosen Bros USA National Sales Manager Brian “The Harlanator” Harlan:
The Houston Rodeo Uncorked! Wine Show attracts wines from across Texas, the United States and throughout the world. 1,789 wines from 591 wineries were judged at the show’s International Wine Competition in November.
We’re kicking up our spurs to announce that our 2009 Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Kabinett Riesling was awarded a Double Gold Medal and designated as “Class Champion” in the ‘semi-sweet’ Riesling category. Yeeha!
Our estate-grown Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett embodies the racy, mineral-driven style of the steep, blue slate vineyards in the middle Mosel. It’s a crisp and juicy Riesling that pairs well with spicy Asian (not to mention cowboy barbecue) cuisine. Wine & Spirits gives it 90 points.
If you’re in Houston this spring, be sure to attend these other Wine Rodeo events:
February 20 — Our Blue Slate Riesling will be poured at the ‘Roundup and Best Bites’ Event.
March 5 — We also will provide a six liter bottle of the wine to be donated to the ‘Champion Auction’.
Details at the Rodeo Uncorked website.
Marauding Birds & Thirsty Interns: A Video Tour of J. Christopher Barrel Caves
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010Over Thanksgiving weekend, wine fan Todd Hudson brought his Flip vid out to the new J. Christopher Winery and did this fun interview with winemaker Jay Somers in one of the new barrel caves. Enjoy!
More Kudos for Weingut Robert Weil
Saturday, December 11th, 2010
Wilhelm Weil, winemaker for Weingut Robert Weil
Below are just a few of the stories.
Have you tried these wonderful wines yet? See what’s available on the Loosen Bros. USA website.
Gault Millau WeinGuide Germany 2011 (November 2010): Once again, Weingut Robert Weil received the top ranking of five“grape clusters” (category denoting “world’s best wine producers”), among others, its 2009 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Spätlese is rated to be the best Spätlese in Germany 2009 and the Kiedrich Gräfenberg Trockenbeerenauslese 2009 got the same ranking with incredible 100 out of 100 points! Quote:” a phenomenal range of wines. Chapeau!“
Eichelmann 2011 Deutschlands Weine (leading annual wine guide in Germany) (November 2010): Once again Weingut Robert Weil achieves the highest rating – five stars – as one of the world’s top producers, and gets sensational 94/100 Points for its 2009 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling trocken Erstes Gewächs!
DER FEINSCHMECKER/WEINGourmet: (German wine & lifestyle magazine) (November 2010): The 800 Best Wine Estates in Germany Weingut Robert Weil once again receives the highest rating possible (5F’s) as “one of the best wine producers worldwide”. Quote:” With the vintage 2009 this exceptional estate once again gives proof to its superior quality!”
www.JancisRobinson.com
REVIEWS OF ROBERT WEIL WINES FROM JANCIS ROBINSON
Robert Weil, Riesling trocken 2009 Rheingau 15.5 Drink 2010-2013 Bright, candified, crystal-clear fruit. Far from funky but a good straightforward expression of ripe, clean, relatively full-bodied Riesling. Just off dry thanks to all that ripeness of 2009. Just a little pinched on the finish. 12%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Klosterberg Riesling trocken 2009 Rheingau 16 Drink 2011-2015 Rather opulent, nutty nose – real horizontal spread on this wine. Very sprightly and super-clean. Lots of acidity and really rather unresolved at the moment. Still a little astringent. The palate needs to catch up with the nose. 13%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling trocken 2009 Rheingau 16 Drink 2012-2016 Wet stones on the nose. This wine is so eager it almost pants at you with its super-clean freshness. Acidity is a little painful at present. Wait! Some glucose sensation. More embryonic than many 2009 trockens. 13%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Erstes Gewächs 2009 Rheingau 17.5 Drink 2010-2016 NB that alcohol level! Much denser and more complex on the nose than the Klosterberg and Turmberg trockens. Minerality is the dominant aroma. Lovely ripeness and a bit of pungency on the front palate and a certain elegance on the finish. This is a complete wine that should drink well for quite a while. The acidity seems notably well integrated. 13.5%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Klosterberg Riesling Spätlese 2009 Rheingau 17 Drink 2013-2020 Fairly neutral nose that speaks more of winemaking than the vineyard at present. Broad honey and flowers on the front palate. Super clean and fresh with very marked acidity and some astringency. Wait for this to settle down to – surely – a particularly pretty wine. 8.5%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling Spätlese 2009 Rheingau 16.5 Drink 2014-2021 Minerality on the nose but not quite such a clear expression of it at this juncture as in the trocken version. Very young and unresolved with the residual sugar and the acidity miles apart at the moment. Strong citrus notes – almost painful citrus acidity. Rather gawky. But super clean! 8.5%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Klosterberg Riesling Auslese 2009 Rheingau 17 Drink 2014-2024 Almost ‘hot’ on the nose! Like lemon balm with a hint of verveine tisane. Lots of sweetness, lots of acidity and the strong promise that one of these days they will be the best of friends. 8%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling Auslese 2009 Rheingau 17.5 Drink 2014-2024 Some smokiness on the nose. Not quite as sweet as the Klosterberg. Lots of pure lemon syrup. Firm and bright with a reassuringly solid undertow already. Surprisingly well integrated even now. Confident delivery, even if no surprises. 8.5%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Beerenauslese 2009 Rheingau 18.5 Drink 2017-2037 Very dense on the nose with lots of layers and complexity. Wonderful texture – like another firmament when compared with the Auslese. The business..! Such purity and balance. This is molten honey kept in check by supremely well-judged corsetry in which acidity plays an important part. This should have a glorious future. 8%
Robert Weil, Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2009 Rheingau 19+ Drink 2020-2040 Deep bronze-gold. (Much darker than the Beerenauslese.) Toasty, lively nose. Massively sweet and with a hint of rose petals and the acidity not nearly as integrated as in the Beerenauslese. A real tightrope walker of a wine with the acidity clamouring for attention and the richness only just managing to suppress it. Needs lots and lots of time… Could anyone with a sore throat resist this elixir? 6.5%
The Wine Trials 2011 Picks Dr. L Riesling as “Wine of the Year”
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
This is definitely news to invoke the hoo! The Wine Trials 2011 Tasting Guide has chosen none other than our own Dr. L Riesling as its “Wine of the Year”!
And let’s reload for another invoking of the hoo to congratulate our joint venture partner Chateau Ste. Michelle, which The Wine Trials named as its “Winery of the Year”!
Published by Fearless Critic Media, the The Wine Trials 2011 lists 175 wines under $15 that, in blind taste tests, outscored bottles priced at $50 and more. Edited by Robin Goldstein, Alexis Herschkowitsch and Tyce Walters, the book seeks to prove that price doesn’t necessarily = quality.
Want to know more? Here’s a good article about The Wine Trials.
Of course, we recommend that you rush right out (or load your browser) and buy this fabulous book, whose tasting panel obviously knows a good glass when they taste it!
New Video Tour of J. Christopher Winery & Appassionata Vineyards
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010On Thanksgiving weekend the area wineries in Oregon have a tradition of holding tasting open houses. Long time Dr. Loosen and J. Christopher fan Todd Hudson came out to taste at our new joint venture J. Christopher Winery and collared Winemaker Extraordinaire Jay Somers for a Flip video tour of the winery’s Appassionata Vineyards.
The video offers a great opportunity to learn about the thought process that goes into designing and planting a new vineyard for great wines. It’s a whole lot more complicated than just planting vines!
(Note: Todd says to tell you sorry if the vid is a bit shaky. Next time he’ll bring his tripod.)
Stay tuned for another Todd Hudson video tour of the new J. Christopher barrel caves.
New Hope for Stopping the Monster Mosel Bridge
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Rendering of the eyesore that is threatening the world's finest Riesling vineyards.
On her blog, Sarah writes:
“Today we have some useful news. Ulrike Höfken and Jutta Blatzheim-Roegler of the Green Party have pressed the national Ministry of Transport for a new cost-benefit analysis of the project, as the last one dates from 1992. They have finally received a reply.
In 1992 the ratio was 3.4 to 1. That means that for every Euro spent the project was estimated to generate 3.4 in return.
During the recent round of spending cuts, the Federal Minister for Transport Peter Ramsauer announced that no projects would get the go ahead which came in with a figure of less than 4 to 1. This fact was heartening for us, but it did not seem to be strong enough for the Ministry to stop a project already underway.
The newly calculated figure shows a current cost-benefit ratio of only 1.8 to 1. This is so appallingly low that it might just help our cause. The Greens now call for the project to be buried and in its place a regional transport strategy implemented which can support the economic interests of the Middle Mosel – namely tourism and wine.”
Logging for the bridge has begun and is expected to have a direct impact on water distribution to the vineyards of Zeltingen, Weheln and Graach below.
For more information on what you can do to help stop the bridge, go to Stop-the-Bridge.org.
Weingut Robert Weil Riesling Named to Wine Spectator Top 100
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
Congratulations to our “Friends of Ernie” portfolio member Weingut Robert Weil on having their 2009 Kiedrich Turmberg Riesling Trocken named a Wine Spectator Top 100 wine for 2010!
Deep in mineral-driven aroma and rich on the palate, this distinctive Riesling comes from Weil’s wholly owned parcel beneath the medieval Gräfenberg tower in the Rheingau.
Here’s what Wine Spectator says:
[93] Wine Spectator – “Top 100”
“A pungent, aromatic white, with gooseberry, peony and spice on the nose. Racy and vividly flavored, with citrus intensity and a laserlike finish. A bit extreme, yet full of personality and a sense of place.” – Rated #81 in the 2010 Top 100.
About Weingut Robert Weil
Founded in 1875, Weingut Robert Weil is considered to be one of the Rheingau’s younger wine estates. It is located in the heart of Kiedrich, a village first documented in the year 950. Kiedrich Turmberg, one of the estate’s top vineyards, is among the finest sites in the Rheingau.
About the Kiedrich Turmberg Vineyard
Kiedrich Turmberg (“tower hill”), a separate hill right next to the Gräfenberg vineyard, is rated as premier cru.
The German wine law of 1971 incorporated Turmberg into the Gräfenberg, but in 2005 it was reinstated as an individual, classified site.
The steep, southwest-facing site has a slate base with a thin topsoil layer composed of stony, gritty phyllite mixed with loess and loam. It produces very fine, elegant wines that are less massive than their counterparts from the Gräfenberg.
Accolades for Winemaker Wilhem Weil
More about Weingut Robert Weil
Here is a report from JancisRobinson.com on a recent tasting of Weingut Robert Weil wines (subscription required).
Be sure to put this fabulous wine on your must-drink list!
For Your Reading Pleasure
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
We’ve been getting a lot of “ink” lately! (Maybe a reason to put that iPad or Kindle on your holiday list?) Put your feet up, pour yourself a glass of luscious Riesling, and enjoy a wine story or two. Cheers!
Wine Spectator: “29 Superb Rieslings” Bruce Sanderson’s new reviews of ripe, racy and pure Rieslings from Germany’s excellent 2009 vintage.
“Dr. Loosen Riesling Spätlese Mosel Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2009 Score: 93 | $30. Very seductive up front, delivering baked apple and peach flavors accented by smoke and mineral notes. The long, creamy finish offers hints of citrus peel. Very lush and buoyant. Drink now. —K.M.”
“Robert Weil Riesling Qualitätswein Trocken Rheingau Kiedrich Turmberg 2009 Score: 93 | $48 A pungent, aromatic white, with gooseberry, peony and spice on the nose. Racy and vividly flavored, with citrus intensity and a laserlike finish. A bit extreme, yet full of personality and a sense of place. Best from 2013 through 2022. 1,700 cases imported. —B.S.”
Chicago Tribune: “Don’t Be Chicken; Try Riesling” – Bill Daley pairs Eroica Riesling (our joint venture with Chateau Ste. Michelle) with spicy, barbecued drumsticks.
Food & Wine: “Asian-American Thanksgiving” – The November issue of Food & Wine Magazine recommends our 2009 Dr. L Riesling with Joann Chang’s Thai Red-Curry Squash Soup recipe, on page 185. Click on the red headline to see the recipe.
Wine Spectator Magazine: The December 15 issue features our 2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Spätlese Wehlener Sonnenuhr, along with several other Mosel Rieslings, in the “Savvy Shopper” column on page 36 with full tasting notes. Other Dr. Loosen and Robert Weil wines are in the buying guide at the back of the magazine, pp 157-158.