Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Don't age Federspiel

2001 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein
This was aromatically lovely, but not the crystalline, perfect beauty that it can be. I think this is maybe a year or so late. Don’t get me wrong, it is still an excellent wine with lots of flowers, fruits, and a sense of being in some mountainous field from a movie. I’ve said this many times, but there is a vitality, and alive-ness to Nikolaihof wines. This is maybe my favorite estate that I have never visited. One day I will make it to the Wachau.

1995 Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
Once again, this wine disappoints. For whatever reason, it has never fulfilled the promise it showed as a young wine. It’s not flawed, or bad, just completely non-descript and uninteresting. Oh well.

4 comments:

Lyle Fass said...

Don't age Janasse either!

Unknown said...

I agree with your headline.

When you get to the Wachau, paddle downstream and across the river to Mautern, where you will find Nikolaihof.

Unknown said...

I had the Nikolaihof over the weekend and it was pretty great. I was pleasantly surprised.

the vlm said...

Well, it isn't that it has gone bad, it's that I think it is on the decline. I just don't see the tertiary characteristics being more pleasant.

YMMV, but that makes you an inconsistent driver.