Time For Me At The Rebstock

Every year...10 days 'me' time...
Friday 26 August

Arrived unpacked and a thai massage to relax the shoulders.
Evenings' choice...

Tement Zieregg IZ Sauvignon Blanc 2008

South Styria, Austria

Nose of gooseberry and lychee...slick minerals...soft nougat sweetness...never ending pleasure here...someone wrote a wine for experts...but even the normal folk would have to appreciate this goodie.

18.25

Food...

Saturday 27 August

An annoying fly had kept me awake until midnight...altho...to be honest...it may have been the cigar after the meal....but so nice to sit out until 10pm after the meal.

With just a morcel to eat and then a long walk to
Kappelrodeck. The plan was to stop over at a cafe...but it was closed as they had a wedding...so I continued homeward throught the vineyards. 

Soup for lunch on the terrace...then plum tart and coffee along with a cohiba.

Bettina...long standing waitress...was asked to open my choice for the evening...one of the wines I had brought with me. Four hours airing...

Wittmann Brunnenhäuschen Riesling 2011

Rheinhessen, Germany

Nose of yellow fruit...and as always...the Wittmann minerality...this just got better with air...trace of bitter grapefruit...lingering finish. Very drinkable...but give it a few hours in the decanter.

17.75

Food...

Tomato Terrine and Kotelett

Sunday 28 August

Another hot day....and a walk down the road to a cafe across from the Winzergenossenschaft...then back through the lower vineyards...and a soup for lunch...and a large glass of alcohol free beer.

Outside on the terrace...and we had a quick rain shower.

Keller Abts Riesling 2012

Rheinhessen, Germany

This was the first vineyard purchased by the Kellers after much investigation, but they showed super-human patience in the negotiations. Consider that they bought their parcel way back in 1996 yet were forced to wait nearly ten years for the current lease to end in 2005 before they could produce a single bottle under their label.

Aroma of pears...freshly cut grass...and a touch of lemon.

Elegant with super salty minerality and bright acidity with very long finish. Pure...precise...perfection...

18.5

Monday 29 August

Cooler today...and I had breakfast on the terrace. light lunch ...soup...at cafe Glatt in Achern...then a walk to the sitting area above the vineyards...

Had this wine a few times...

Ziereisen Jaspis Gutedel 10 Hoch 4 2011
Baden, Germany

Repeat...repeat...like a great  White Burgundy. Give it a large glass...and take a large whiff...and an extra large gulp. Only kidding...but this is very good. Butter and caramel aftertaste. Long...long...

18.25

Food...Warm Goose liver and Zander Filet

A couple I met last year were there again. They like their wine...so after they were given a glass of mine....they offered back Huber's Wildenstein Spätburgunder 2010...still wild and complex.

We arranged to meet up for dinner next day.

Tuesday 30 August

Another massage...then into Achern to buy some new shoes for walking.

Tried them out through he vineyards...as I never wear socks in Summer...no blisters...great.

Franz Josef and Caroline arrived...they had brought along a bottle purchased from the Saar.

It was a pleasant opener while we chose the food.

Jumping ahead...I wanted something for the main course that needed little attention...as we would be chatting. The lamb was not the correct choice!
Too much work...

Back to the starters...and I had asked for the Hirtzberger to be given a couple of hours.

Hirtzberger Hochrain Smaragd Riesling 2010

Wachau, Austria

First impression was a little fat....but as it mixed in the glass the hidden acidity came through.

This would have complimented the Warm Goose Liver eaten on the previous evening...

17.5

We had discussed a few possibilities for the red...Franz Josef thinking about the Wildenstein 2009...I would have been happy with trying the Tignanello 2007 or the Spanish Ygay 2005...but they let me guide them to Becker's top Pinot...a wine I had drank with friends a few months ago.

Becker Pinot Noir 2009

Pfalz, Germany

Fuller evolved and ready...oak just about hovering on the nose...and perfect served cooler on the warm evening.

18

Wednesday 31 August

Long hike to the Zuckerbergschloss....listening to the music I love...Soul and Gospel. Reibekuchen and a beer...

then on the way back...a coffee and apple tart at Huber' cafe.

For the evening...

Asked for a table in the corner of the terrace. Have a feeling I do not want to converse tonight...and the staff know what I want.

The wine I want is the surprise last time I was here.

Robert Weil Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling trocken 2007 

Rheingau, Germany 

I loved this...floral notes...peaches...perfect time with the minerals and acidity stroking the Rheingau fruit. Exciting wine...harmonious...just my style. 

Points 17.75 

Thursday 01 September
Breakfast with Franz Josef and Caroline

The shoes are made for walking...getting a rhythm...at this rate I will sell the car...buy myself a case of Keller's G-Max. Which leads me into the evening...and I was undecided what to drink. The plan HAD been...to sit with owner Karl Hodapp and share some wines...but yesterday he fell off his bike...and wine was not on the menu for his evening.

I sat on the terrace and both Claudi and Sandro greeted me with...wine is on the house! I threatened a G-Max 2014...which I know is in a mixed case Karl had collected from the property a few months ago...and we laughed. I compromised with a repeat of the Abtserde 2012.

Friday 02 September

Fancied a Pizza for lunch...Pizzeria in Achen...only ate half...look at the size of it!

Friday afternoon...Karl had recovered enough to join me for a cup of tea...and said to leave the two bottles I had brought with me...they are covered up and he has no idea what they are...and sometime in November we will empty them. Karl said he was well enough for the usual glass I send into the kitchen...and suggested Keller's Silvaner Feuervogel 2015 which has a flinty nose...herby...quite full and juicy...soft smokey minerals...and vibrant acidity. Think it will be ok with warm Goose Liver followed by the Entrecôte.

Points 17

So here I am...slumming it again with Klaus Peter Keller...he would be proud of me!

Saturday 03 September

Walked up to the Hochsitz and ate some on the Pizza from yesterday. When I watch films and people are eating cold Pizza I shudder...but this was not bad. Weather is still warm...but the light clouds are keeping off the sun. It must be a record for my visits...every night eating out n the terrace!

At last...the Quail is on the menu...filled with Blutwurst und Gänseleber...a perfect match for the wine.

Knoll Riesling Pfaffenberg Selection 2006

Wachau, Austria

Last of the three bottles I brought from home.

Yellow with green tinges...gorgeous nose...yellow apples...pineapples...and it continues onto the palate...10 years old...and a point...still quite full...but that is Knoll's style.

17.5

Sunday 04 September
Never tire of the trees viewed from the balcony...

Breakfast on the terrace...but it is cloudy.

The local football team are at home...and an early kick-off. They won 3-0.

Rain came  as the game finished...but I was prepared.

No way you could sit outside tonight...so inside to the Stube.

I have been off the red wine...but tonight...last night...a red I tried 2 years ago.

Dominus Estate 2004

Napa Valley, U.S.A.

Nose bacon-like...complex cedar...loads of blackcurrants...creamy...soft and lush...but earthy enough to hold your attention.

Points 17.5

 

• Monday 05 September
  And so another 10 years atthe Rebstock. Always a please to me up with Karl
  wife Sandra and son Basti.Their world seems far away from the problems of the
  world...long may it remain so.
•  

No Riesling from Volker

As promised...the next meeting...and Volker had been reading the blog.
He offered to open proceeding...bottle screw cap...and most definitely not a Riesling.
Sauvignon Blanc?...there was some lychees in there...a crazy Sylvaner?...we finally ended up with a Chardonnay. What a beauty...

Friedrich Becker Chardonnay Minéral 2010
Pfalz, Germany
Becker reds I know...but...and I miss very little...I had missed this white.
Rich and creamy on the nose...and it does what it says on the body...it offers you super minerals. This was probably a little fat in it's youth...but now there is a complete balance. Still some oak on the palate...but so lovely with it...a crowd-pleaser...a wine-freak pleaser. I could have stayed with this all evening.
Points 17.5


Robert tends towards northern Spain / southern France.

Chêne Bleu Aliot 2012
Vaucluse, Rhione, France
60% Roussanne, 35% Grenache Blanc, 5% Marsanne and some Viognier maybe...but that would mean my maths are not good.
White peach, honey, spicy. Volker craved for seafood with it...non available.
Quite rich on the palate with some ginger...and as always from Monsieur Robert...a wine to test you...just it's bad luck to have followed Mr. Becker
Points 16.75

Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2003
Rhone, France
Old style...roasted meat instantly out of the glass. Colour would not have helped the guys guess the age. Red fruit and the spicy dark plum of classic Pape.
Points 17.5

Drink The Wine, Not The Bottle

Late post on our last meeting early April...but as the next one is due...I had better pull my finger out.

Volker always brings a white...and a Riesling...and it is good to have some stability in our monthly meeting. Robert on the other hand always produces some rarity and it takes us a while to nail it down.

Dönnhoff Hermannnshöhle Riesling GG 2014
Nahne, Germany

To be honest...this too young...and was showing its best an hour later as it warmed. I find Dönnhoff's. wines tend to some restsüsse...and in their youth are a little unbalanced. Negatives by side...this was an aggreeable starter.

Alfredo Arribas Trossos Tros Blanc 2013
Montsant, Spain
Robert always brings something not readily available...usually from Spain...and he was recently in the area. After we guessed North Spain...it made the grape guess easier...Grenache Blanc...and he told us the vines were up to 80 years old. I can usually taste the aged ones...and this threw up some creamy fruit. Ripe peaches and with pleanty of depth. Very interesting.

Now...as you know...our meeetings are great fun as we have to guess what is hidden inside the covered wine.
I had been asked to bring a red...and anyone who has been around wine over the last 20 years will know the bottle size from Au Bon Climat. The punt at the bottom is a finger long. The kitchen foil would have been a waste of time. My two friends should work for their success as I have to with their wines.

My red needed a decant...which it got a couple of hours beforehand...BUT....it was decanted into an empty white wine bottle from Austria with a screwcap!!!

This bottle got the kitchen foil...and I was ready to go.
Whenever you are asked to guess wines...you look for all the help you can get...and I guess Volker and Robert eyed what was before them.

They guessed Pinot Noir...and in the normal bottle would have said 'New World' Au Bon Climat.

Now...what do you think happnened? They went all over the world!

When they finally ended up in Santa Barbara County...I nodded. 'But the only wine we know like that is Au Bon Climat...and there are no slim bottles with screwtop'
Did I say there was. My giggles had started by now and I revealed the label.

Laugh...my sides were hurting. They love me for my humour...and even when we said goodnight...I could still not stop smiling. In the middle of the night I let out a roar.

The wine...well...showing some age... Meaty...eucalytus...still soft biting tannins...

What awaits me in our future tastings?. I will be on my toes!

The REAL Bottle

The FALSE Bottle

Great Red Wine

These meetings we really look forword to. Once a month and you bring something special or interesting.
As I knew the others would be bringing white I spent a long time in my celler for something to 'knock 'em out'.
Robert and Volker arrived at our usual haunt Schaab Louis...and the first cork was popped.

Roagna Solea 2013
Langhe, Italy

I was first to try to guess...and instantly said Chardonnay. A nod came...but then an answer saying there was more. What is the other? We went through as many white grapes as we knew...and only as an afterthought said Nebbiolo. Robert does like to make it difficult for us. This is like a Blanc de Noir.
Apricots, peaches, flowers and light honey in a round, supple style.
Points 16.5

Volker had sent me a wine list from a local restaurant in Nierstein.

It was endless...although there only seems to be 1 or 2 bottles of every wine.

The vintages are 10 - 20 years old...and the prices very attractive.

His wine this evening had been selected and purchased.

 

St. Antony Pettental Riesling 2003

Rheinhessen, Germany

Clear petroleum...ripe Riesling.. I guessed 2003...although not through negativity of the hot vintage. This was just perfect. Good winemakers make good wine in difficult years.
Volker had brought along a newer vintage...2013 if I remember...but the style has changed...oak is dominant. If it not broken...why mend it...seemed the perfect phrase.

The 2003 gets

Points 17.5 from me.

Friedrich Becker Pinot Noir 2009

Pfalz, Germany

The absolute top wine from Becker. 'Tafelwein' he used to call it. The grapes grow over the border in France. This has been slumbering in the celler a couple of years...bought when it was 'cheaper'. Price is relative!
Newer vintages cost € 120,-- but if they are like this then they are worth every penny / cent! 

Toasty oak...dive in and enjoy. Pure Pinot fruit...and to me...the oak is just perfect. Traces of cherries and milk chocolate. Great mouthful and a lingering aftertaste.

The guys...who mark out of 100...gave it 97/98...praise indeed from these experts.

I don't give 19 to often...but this wine just threatened me with every sip.

Points 19

The guys asked me about our last meeting... I had not posted anything.

Time, health, holiday...was my excuse.

What I do remember was the wine I had brought along. 
Patience is a virtue...and my wine for the evening had been in the cellar 20 years.
However...patience seemed to leave me on this evening...I just could not wait to try it...and had not taken notes on the two wines offered by my buddies.
Chateau Lynch-Bages 1989
Pauillac, France
The trouble was...I had opened it 4 hours previously...and sniffed to check. That sniff made me impatient.
However...my patience in leaving this bottle in the celler had repaid me.
Deep ruby colour. Nose a touch of eucalyptus, cedar, black fruits, the usual cigar box and lead pencils. The palate just knocks you out. Loads of fruit...you have refrain from taking big gulps. Super balance. Top top wine.
Points 19.5