willi schaefer

a 2007 pair from Willi

~ Richard ~ Leave a comment

I hav long enjoyed the wines of Willi Schaefer, and have visited for an exceptional tasting once. The difference in the two wines below is the AP number, in small print on the label. In this instance the wines are from slightly different plots within the same vineyard. The Schaefer Graacher Domprobst wines tend to be more earthy/minerally than those from their Graacher Himmelreich plots.

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese AP#12 8%
Mosel

Gold colour, red apple, spices, honey, citrus, whispers of tropical fruits. Deliciously swete, and fresh, and textured, The palate is creamy textured, with some stonefruit character and just so damn refreshing. Fresh fruit beckons.

Drink to 2032, 92 points

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese AP#5 8%
Mosel

A mirror of the above, with slightly more of everything; weight, texture, fruit depth, spices and some attractive green herbs. Gorgeous,

Drink to 2035, 93 points

One local, one German, and another loss

~ Richard ~ Leave a comment

2002 S&K vp

2002 Stanton and Killeen Vintage Fortified 18.1%
29% Shiraz, 25% touriga, 20% durif, 12% tinta cao, 12% tinta barocca, 2% tinta roriz

Deep black/red colour with some bricking. Mocha, spices, creaminess, excellent spirit integration, and dark blackberry. Palate is packed with liquorice and aniseed, and fruitcake spices. Vintage port style, but It was certainly sweeter than Portuguese models. I suspected touriga inputs alongside Shiraz, and age around 25 years. Stanton and Killeen rate the vintage as very good with an 8/10 rating.

After the wine was unmasked, I was disappointed that marque’s usual depth, complexity, suppleness, savoury bite and drinking pleasure was less than expected. A sound wine, but lacking the expected thrills.

Drink to 2030, 91 points

2007 haart auslese

2007 Reinhold Haart Wintricher Ohligsberg riesling Auslese 7.5%
Mosel, AP#16 and 127 g/l rs.

Gold colour; plentiful spices, red apple, white peach, and passionfruit; palate is fresh and lush, creamy plus some mineral and light smoke with that classy balance between its high sugar (for an auslese) and acidity that avoids cloying and leaves one begging for more. A delight.

Drink to 2030, 94 points (and thankfully still similar to my notes from Jan 2017)

I was saddened to learn of the recent death of Willi Schaefer. I love these Mosel wines – pure and unforced. I had a terrific visit to the dining room in the house in 2007. We were welcomed, despite our sketchy knowledge of the wines and our inability to purchase more than a token bottle or two. An unhurried and extensive tasting, with plentiful knowledge transfer which provided the determination to purchase and cellar their wines. I will drink my stock with pleasure and treasure my memories.

Unrelated wines – catching up

~ Richard ~ Leave a comment

1983 orlando vp july 2020

1983 Orlando Vintage Port 19.8%
Barossa Valley (South Australia) Shiraz. Solid ruby colour with minor bricking.  aromatic – sweet, fine brandy spirit; fig, plum, stewed rhubarb, blueberry; fruitcake spices. Later, red liquorice, cherry liqueur, and a touch of almond. Lingering fine tannins meshed with that superb spirit.

Delicious drinking but without the magic of the previous bottle (on this blog Dec 2019) albeit similar notes. No complaints at 37 years!

Drink to 2030, 91 points

2008 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett AP#3 7.5%
Mosel, Screwcap, and 48g/l residual sugar. Bright gold; citrus and Jonathon apple lead with brown spices and minerals; the palate shows juicy yellow-flesh peach, wrapped up with zingy acidity. The mineral influence shines through. The wine is easy to drink, but is not as expressive as most of the wines from one of my favourite Mosel producers.

Drink to 2025, 90 points.

 

Catch-up with some European sweet wines

~ Richard ~ Leave a comment

2007 willi, grun

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett AP#9 8%
One of my favourite Mosel producers. 57g/l residual sugar. A bright pale gold, red apple, touch of barely ripe pineapple. Crunchy, fresh, melons and lime, with a rich fresh mouthfeel, Comforting, comfortable, refreshing.

To 2030, 91 points.

2007 Maximin Grunhaus herrenberg Riesling spatlese 8%
Mosel. Deeper gold, Aromatically less pure than the previous wine; candle-wax, red grapefruit, spiced pears. The palate displays more dried and glace fruits; acidity does not seem as vibrant and a bit of hardness is evident. No trouble drinking this wine over several days, but early consumption is suggested.

The label is “old-school”.

To 2025 and 89 points

2006 Ch Coutet 14%
Barsac, 75% Semillon, 23% sav blanc 2% muscadelle; 149 g/l rs. A good but not brilliant vintage for Sauternes, but the wine (half bottle) has held well. There is abundant information on their website.

Light toffee colour, showing pristine vanilla, icing sugar, stewed apricot, and orange peel. The palate is very ripe and sweet, with some marmalade characters and almond (oak). Racy acid makes helps; there is tension between the exotic fruit sweetness, acidity and mouthfilling texture.

From a half-bottle, this wine was a wonderful result for the vintage and seems on a long plateau. Drink to 2025 (conservative, but the wine presents so well now), and 93 points

2010 Mader Pinot Gris Schlossberg Grand cru (sweet)
Hunawihr,  Alsace. Light gold colour, Sultana, pears, dried apple, dried apricot. The grapey palate retains just enough acidity to keep interest.

Drying out, with possibly some oxidation. There is still drinking enjoyment, but it’s on the decline

Drink now, and 87 points

another Willi Schaefer

~ Richard ~ Leave a comment

2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprost Riesling Auslese #17, 7.5%
94 g/l residual sugar- serious territory.

2007 willi schaefer

The wine is still a bright pale gold colour, with more “presence” than the two Kabinetts opened earlier.  There is a touch of petroleum, which does not detract from the array of white peach, white flower, ripe red apple, lemon sherbet  and flinty aromatics; the palate is sensual, with those fruit flavours melding with light honey viscosity and a twangy vibrant acidity. This wine is a parcel of delectability, and a fine example of a Mosel sweetie with some bottle development – with great prospects for its future.

Drink to 2033, and 94 points

Willi Schaefer (2008 times two)

~ Richard ~ 1 Comment

Willi Schaefer is an extremely well-regarded Mosel producer, whose wines have been available ( in Australia) for around the last ten years through Eurocentric. Riesling is their forte, with well-sited blocks producing a wide range of excellent wines. Two wines tasted below demonstrate the cellar-worthiness of even “humble” Kabinetts, and their refreshing delivery of full flavours at modest alcohol levels.

willi schaefer 2008 x2

2008 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprost Riesling Kabinett #2 7.5%
52 g/l residual sugar. Pale lemon/gold colour, this wine shows stonefruit characters, and is an earthier, rounder, softer expression than its sibling below; the palate shows preserved lemon , but this is a delicious easy-drinking Riesling with lovely acidity. While there is no obvious cork detriment, I will not be surprised if other bottles show greater vibrancy, and look forward to testing this in the next few months.

Drink to 2023, and 89 points

2008 Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett #9 7.5%
46 g/l residual sugar. Again this wine is a pale, lemon/gold colour, but slightly brighter. This wine displays a multitude of  scents- stonefruit (nectarine), minerals and drive. The palate really lights up with spices, red apple, green plum, and sweet lemon. Providing sensual approachability, this wine combines finesse with balance.

Drink to 2030, and 92 points