WTN: 2002 KELLER - the magic of german Riesling

Here are some first impressions of a Blind-Tasting of Grand Cru Rieslings from the region Rheinhessen based on the vintage 2002.


2002 Keller, "Kirchspiel-Turmstück" GG
Here we have the first vintage of “Kirchspiel”. The Kirchspiel is the prima ballerina of the Keller wines with a cool mineral elegance and a “dancing finesse on the tonque” par excellence. The winemaker himself describes this ´02 as an “imaginary dry J.J. Prüm”. Indeed the bouquet is stinky and also very fine and elegant on the palate. In addition flavors of flint, herbs and smoke. Drink it now.........
91pts.


2002 Keller, "Hubacker" GG
Hubacker is the most hedonistic or voluptuous of the Grand Cru Rieslings from Klaus-Peter Keller.
Always shows a juicy flavor profile of exotic fruits (pineapple) with a light creamy texture and a fine minerality as a backbone. Very burgundy-like this 02 version. DELICIOUS
93pts.


2002 Keller, "Morstein" GG
A masterpiece!
What a distinctive play between fruit and minerality combined with power and elegance.... that´s the magic of german Riesling. A class of its own, as he outperformed the notable 01/02 Morstein Rieslings from the estate Wittmann. A baby right now and the next bottle in 3-5 years.
97pts.

http://www.snakvin.com/foto/albums/user ... MG8807.JPG

[David M. Bueker]

Thank you for the notes Martin. Keller continues to elude me. Some recent tastes of the 2006s left me in a similar mind as David Schildknecht who finds them excellent but not other-wordly.

David,

I know that you have no access to Keller wines. But wait when David will release his notes for 2007 Keller, as 2007 is the best vintage at estate Keller
In general 2006 dry Rieslings from Rheinhessen are good but not outstanding. Clearly the region Nahe performed much, much better which is also seen by
the scores of David S.

P.S. 0ne exception 2006 Keller "Kirchspiel" GG is brilliant.

[David M. Bueker]

I'm not referring to availability, but rather that the wines just do not bowl me over. I think they are very well made, but they do not excite my palate.

Martin, these notes make me want to get my lips to one these wines. Do you think that they need the sort of maturity that these 02s have to be showing their full magic?

Unfortunately I cannot trace any Keller availability in Belgium and I guess that FUB in Cologne will have sold out their Morstein 07 long before I can get there.

Tim,

07 Rieslings have a loooooong aging potential. Every winemaker underlines this.