Sunday Betsy drove me up to John?s, and he drove from their, to a lovely lakefront home in CT. 5 of us with a monumental task- taste through the GGs and a couple other 2020 Kellers. I had assumed it wouldn?t include the G-Max (not technically a GG) but was wrong. It is good to be wrong.
Sasha greeted us with charcuterie, cheeses, and the NV Patrice Colin Perles Grises. PetNat from Pineau d?Aunis, with the herb meets pine needle PdA thing over light strawberry fruit and orange zest. Light petillance, god persistence, fun. B
Jeff has brought a couple of Champagnes. Micheal and I shucked some oysters (and served with 2 mignonettes, one traditional, one pickled ramp)
2014 Suenen Le Mont Aigu Champagne I believe extra brut. Pear and mango, lemony note, spicy, just a hint of biscuit. Good depth and length. B+2009 Laval Les Hautes Chevres Champagne This was actually served later but trying to keep bubbles together. Last vintage of old vine PN, I believe Jeff said Meunier now. Stunningly complex BdN, smoke and gunflint over a base of pit fruits and pear. Long, complex, gorgeous. A/A-
OK, on to the Keller lineup
2020 Keller Von der Fels Riesling Trocken This is actually pretty firm and pretty large framed, and it?s not a GG! Very mineral, long, this is a von der Fels to age. B+/A-2020 Keller Westhofen Riesling Trocken A section of Kirghspiel that used to go into Von der Fels, comparatively open. Apple, Bing cherry, and ginger, quite nice. B+
2020 Keller Kirchspiel Riesling GG This was actually my favorite of the day for drinking now, though a baby. Electrifying acidity, totally dry but with ripe fruit (cherry and lime), mint meets lemongrass herbal notes, and long saline/mineral finish, A/A-2020 Keller Hubacker Riesling GG Citrus, red fruits, very tight but very promising A-/B+
2020 Keller Pettenthal Riesling GG OK this is problem with taking notes on new phone (Notes works differently) , I somehow have no notes on this, but there is an untitled note saying electric slate. Which I assume is for this. It was excellent in any case.2020 Morstein Riesling GG Grapefruit, floral, long, quite tight but I took remnants home and quite enjoyed next night, developed a smoky/gunflint note, very long and rich. A-/A
2020 Keller Abts E® Riesling GG Huge, mineral, citrus and saline, so long. A-2020 Keller G-Max It?s a cliche but liquid rocks. Massive, zippy acids, yet with a sense of balance. Everything you would expect from reputation. Of course crazy pricing, I?d rather have 3 cases of Von der Fels! A/A-
All of these wines were amazing, of particular note were the length of the finish. I?ve always joked about notes with timed finishes, but I should have pulled out stopwatch app.
A nice chicken and sausage stew went well with the whites and the Laval.
And a few reds before we revisited the Rieslings
2007 Bellevue (Lussac-St.Emilion) Served blind, I thought much older, but of course I also thought more prestigious appellation Mature, cigarbox and a ferric note, I liked, some others liked more. B2007 Mugneret-Gibourg Feusselottes Chambolle-Musigny 1er Some thought reserved, but I thought in a good spot (as are so many 2007s). Elegant, sandalwood over red cherries and coffee, light tannins in background, good acids, clean finish. B+/A-
2011 Abbatucci ?Ministre Imperial? rouge I served blind, not because anyone would guess (no one had tried), but because it was an oddity. Light color, raspberry and cranberry, very herbal. First guesses were Georgia and Jura (I can see both). Bright, food friendly, but at MSRP definitely not a bargain (I didn?t pay MSRP). B/B+What a fun day. John gave a ride to train, Betsy picked me up, really glad I didn?t need to always spit!
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.