Just in - some terrific scores for Schnaitmann from James Suckling.
2019 Lämmler Lemberger Grosses Gewächs: 96pts
8 Dec, 2021 – The best lemberger red I can remember ever tasting! Fascinating, spicy nose with fine damson plum fruit, plus notes of licorice and wet earth. No perceptible oak. Very fresh and pure, this has super-elegant tannins that give it a deep keel in the dark waters that it plows. The very long and complete finish makes this hard to resist, but it has great aging potential. Bottled unfiltered. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Lämmler Grauburgunder Grosses Gewächs: 95pts
8 Dec, 2021 – This dry pinot gris shows how this grape is capable of Burgundian-style greatness in the underrated Württemberg region. Lovely floral-honey nose with a hint of funk adding some excitement, this has tons of candied orange and Hokaido pumpkin. The palate has impressive elegance for the variety, the balance of chalky tannins with restrained ripeness and mineral acidity spot-on. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Götzenberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs: 95pts
8 Dec, 2021 – The flinty nose with deep dried-citrus and herb aromas, plus a touch of mirabelle, announces a very serious dry riesling that has a compact structure and major concentration packed into a rather sleek body. Very long and firm finish, where the interplay of salty minerality and candied-lemon character is very exciting. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.
2019 Lämmler Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs: 95pts
8 Dec, 2021 – Deep and mysterious, this concentrated pinot noir is very elegant, thanks to the very silky tannins. I love the subtle forest-berry fruit, but the wet-earth character and the extremely long, velvety finish are what anchor this pinot noir masterpiece from a region most fans of this grape variety have never heard of. Excellent aging potential. Bottled unfiltered. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Simonroth Lemberger: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – Intensely rooty nose that reminds me of some traditional red Burgundies, even though the aromas here go in a darker direction (bark, wet earth and graphite). Serious structure and weight, but also fresh acidity and moderate alcohol that make the finish light and bright. There’s a thread of savory character running through all this, adding more complexity. Bottled unfiltered. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2018 Reserve Riesling: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – At 3 years of age, this is still very young and quite funky (from reduction) and it takes quite some aeration before this turns in a positive smoky and flinty direction. However, it’s also rich, concentrated and texturally complex, the finish remarkable fresh and stony for the exceptionally warm vintage. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.
2020 Bergmandel Sauvignon: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – A subtle and elegant sauvignon blanc that reminds me of top quality Pouilly-Fumé. Quite flinty with discreet grapefruit-zest and cassis aromas. With aeration, notes of cucumber, snow peas and basil develop. Good concentration, but it’s the combination of firm structure with creamy texture on the palate that makes it stand out. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
2015 Reserve Sekt: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – A mellow and mature style with notes of cooked quince and candied orange, reminding me of some well-aged prestige cuvée champagnes. However, the bone-dry balance on the palate really emphasizes the freshness at the finish, giving this impressive tension. Discreet mousse. 100% pinot meunier. Drink now.
2019 Simonroth Cabernet Franc: 93pts
8 Dec, 2021 – A very striking and youthful cabernet franc, unlike anything else I’ve encountered. Very intense wild-blackberry and red-beet aromas with just a touch of red and green bell-pepper character. On the medium-bodied palate it marries dark-fruit and savory character with crispness, ending with an intense dried-herb note. Bottled unfiltered. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Steinwiege Lemberger: 92pts
8 Dec, 2021 – Brimming with red-beet, black-cherry and cardamon aromas, this may not be the most subtle lemberger (aka blaufrankisch) red, but it has a healthy tannin structure to back up all the aromas. Long, crisp finish that pulls you back for more. So youthful! Bottled unfiltered. Vegan. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
2019 Lämmler Lemberger Grosses Gewächs: 96pts
8 Dec, 2021 – The best lemberger red I can remember ever tasting! Fascinating, spicy nose with fine damson plum fruit, plus notes of licorice and wet earth. No perceptible oak. Very fresh and pure, this has super-elegant tannins that give it a deep keel in the dark waters that it plows. The very long and complete finish makes this hard to resist, but it has great aging potential. Bottled unfiltered. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Lämmler Grauburgunder Grosses Gewächs: 95pts
8 Dec, 2021 – This dry pinot gris shows how this grape is capable of Burgundian-style greatness in the underrated Württemberg region. Lovely floral-honey nose with a hint of funk adding some excitement, this has tons of candied orange and Hokaido pumpkin. The palate has impressive elegance for the variety, the balance of chalky tannins with restrained ripeness and mineral acidity spot-on. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Götzenberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs: 95pts
8 Dec, 2021 – The flinty nose with deep dried-citrus and herb aromas, plus a touch of mirabelle, announces a very serious dry riesling that has a compact structure and major concentration packed into a rather sleek body. Very long and firm finish, where the interplay of salty minerality and candied-lemon character is very exciting. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.
2019 Lämmler Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs: 95pts
8 Dec, 2021 – Deep and mysterious, this concentrated pinot noir is very elegant, thanks to the very silky tannins. I love the subtle forest-berry fruit, but the wet-earth character and the extremely long, velvety finish are what anchor this pinot noir masterpiece from a region most fans of this grape variety have never heard of. Excellent aging potential. Bottled unfiltered. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Simonroth Lemberger: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – Intensely rooty nose that reminds me of some traditional red Burgundies, even though the aromas here go in a darker direction (bark, wet earth and graphite). Serious structure and weight, but also fresh acidity and moderate alcohol that make the finish light and bright. There’s a thread of savory character running through all this, adding more complexity. Bottled unfiltered. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2018 Reserve Riesling: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – At 3 years of age, this is still very young and quite funky (from reduction) and it takes quite some aeration before this turns in a positive smoky and flinty direction. However, it’s also rich, concentrated and texturally complex, the finish remarkable fresh and stony for the exceptionally warm vintage. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.
2020 Bergmandel Sauvignon: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – A subtle and elegant sauvignon blanc that reminds me of top quality Pouilly-Fumé. Quite flinty with discreet grapefruit-zest and cassis aromas. With aeration, notes of cucumber, snow peas and basil develop. Good concentration, but it’s the combination of firm structure with creamy texture on the palate that makes it stand out. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
2015 Reserve Sekt: 94pts
8 Dec, 2021 – A mellow and mature style with notes of cooked quince and candied orange, reminding me of some well-aged prestige cuvée champagnes. However, the bone-dry balance on the palate really emphasizes the freshness at the finish, giving this impressive tension. Discreet mousse. 100% pinot meunier. Drink now.
2019 Simonroth Cabernet Franc: 93pts
8 Dec, 2021 – A very striking and youthful cabernet franc, unlike anything else I’ve encountered. Very intense wild-blackberry and red-beet aromas with just a touch of red and green bell-pepper character. On the medium-bodied palate it marries dark-fruit and savory character with crispness, ending with an intense dried-herb note. Bottled unfiltered. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.
2019 Steinwiege Lemberger: 92pts
8 Dec, 2021 – Brimming with red-beet, black-cherry and cardamon aromas, this may not be the most subtle lemberger (aka blaufrankisch) red, but it has a healthy tannin structure to back up all the aromas. Long, crisp finish that pulls you back for more. So youthful! Bottled unfiltered. Vegan. Drink or hold. Screw cap.