2013  

100% Pinot Blanc. We are fans of this estate - among the best producers of Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) in Germany. This is a lovely example of the charms of Pinot Blanc, made by the young Friedrich Wilhelm, building on the strong reputation that his father, also Friedrich, established over the last four decades. Although a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc is structurally close to Chardonnay. This is fairly rich, with an expressive yellow fruit & citrus nose, and a palate that is layered and tense with acidity. Situated at the very southern end of the Pfalz, this estate actually owns a significant portion of vineyard land across the border in Alsace-which they are allowed to label legally as German wine. The whole operation feels like a hybrid of French technique with German tradition. Young Fritz Becker gleefully experiments with French vs German clones of Pinor Noir and French vs German barrels-including numerous casks he picked up (used) from Romanée-Conti and Comtes Lafon!

2013  Riesling QbA Trocken GG Domdechaney

2014  Scharzhofberger Riesling

2014  

2011  Spatlese, Dry

100% Riesling. Dry. 12.5% alcohol. Opens with a whiff of kerosene. Focused and precise, rather full-bodied for a Mosel, but very nice. nicely balanced sweetness with acidity. In 1997 Thomas Haag bought the estate. He is the son of Wilhelm Haag, proprietor of the Fritz Haag estate. The estate is now comprised of seven hectares (17.5 acres) of vineyard which are 100% planted to Riesling. The vineyards are some of the steepest on the Middle Mosel with grades up to 70%. Thomas strives to make wines with ripe acid structure, vibrant and petillant palate, with the pure expression of fruit - racy and light.

2014  

100% Riesling. Great riesling with an aromatic fruit profile tending more towards the middle - pear & some peach skin. A little grip, suggesting there might have been some skin contact. Medium+ acidity. Nice weight. 10.5% abv. Dry!

2015  Riesling Grosses Gewachs

"A hint of lanolin from barrel mingles on the nose with site-typical lime, sweet corn, flowers and green herbs. There’s so much going on here that I can’t see why the whiff of oak should give offense. A polished feel and inner-mouth persistence of bittersweet floral perfume complement succulent white peach, pear and sweet corn. The succulently sustained finish irresistibly calls for the next sip." - Vinous

2015  Riesling Grosses Gewachs

"Hints of lanolin and resin from barrel mingle with sweetly aromatic suggestions of almond paste, ripe pear, honeysuckle and lily-of-the-valley. Lush, succulent, polished and loaded with inner-mouth perfume, this lets you forget entirely about its oak component up until the finish, where an undertone of wet stone and a stimulating nip of fresh ginger compete slightly with the lanolin and resin, and there is less primary juiciness (let alone seductive succulence or floral persistence) than in the corresponding Grainhübel. But these are early days, and I expect that this bottling will shape up beautifully with time, though I’m skeptical whether it will ever rival its memorable 2014 predecessor in complexity or stamina." - Vinous

2012  

A Pinot noir made from manually-harvested grapes which undergo a spontaneous fermentation in open wooden barrels. The malolactic fermentation takes place in barrique. This Pinot displays a deep red fruity flavour with a complex character; fine and delicate and possessing the Burgundian capability of being able to develop further from year to year. Unfiltered.