Some Sort of Riesling-God?
2011 Schäfer-Fröhlich Felseneck GG
Special Pre-Arrival Pricing Ends Wednesday!
It has been a steady, measured ascendancy, but there can be no doubt that this is one of the GREATEST dry wines being made in Germany.
One could just as correctly (and with no exaggeration) write - one of the greatest wines in the world.
Few wines manage such saturation, such compact density and astounding depth in such a razor-sharp, delineated format. The 2011 Felseneck simply explodes in a juicy, precise fury of mineral, zested slate both polished and pulverized, crisp, ripe citrus and stone fruit. This wine shimmers.
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| Felseneck Vineyard |
Of all of Tim's Grand Crus, the Felseneck has everything. It is an experience - an experience that all Riesling dorks, all Burghounds, all Champagne fanatics and Chablis crazies should have, at least once.
If you have bought, and enjoyed, the Felseneck GG in the past I'd heartily recommend going as long as you can on the 2011. This is a glorious, ripe vintage marked by fresh, glossy acids andlovely balance.
John Gilman concludes his tasting note verily: "...flawless balance and profound length and grip on the laser-like and boundless finish. This is just a humbling bottle of dry Riesling from a magical terroir." (Full tasting note below.)
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Tim said he had never harvested such beautiful grapes and you can taste it. This wine is just imponderably pure - some sort of Riesling-God, part 2007 and part 2009.
It's funny that in this ripe and rather generous vintage, while many winemakers reported huge harvests (especially in comparison with the difficult, small harvests of 2010), Tim said his harvests were bigger than 2010, but not by much.
He had to make repeated trips through the vineyard, making rigorous selections, discarding less-than-perfect fruit... final harvests weren't until the end of October, which was very late this year.
There are many rather gentle and easy Rieslings in 2011 - this isn't one of them. This is one of the most crystalline and precise, one of the most serious expressions of Riesling in 2011.
The wine does not arrive until fall (it can't legally be released from the estate until September 1st) and there is no pricing out there yet on this wine. Still, this is likely the lowest price you will ever see this wine at.
Inquire for pricing and availability of Tim's other GGs: Felsenberg, Halenberg and Kupfergrube.
For fans of Schäfer-Fröhlich's sweet wines - Kabinett and Spätlesen - keep a watch... there is an offer coming soon.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Stephen Bitterolf
Wine Director
Crush Wine & Spirits
John Gilman, "The 2011 Felseneck Riesling Grosses Gewächs is pure beauty on both the nose and palate. The stunningly refined nose delivers a complex mélange of tart orange, pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, crystalline slate minerality, citrus peel, a touch of lemongrass and again, a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and dancing, with a superb core of fruit, bright, zesty acidity, flawless balance and profound length and grip on the laser-like and boundless finish. This is just a humbling bottle of dry Riesling from a magical terroir!"