2012 Geheimrat "J" Riesling Spätlese trocken Schatzkammer-Wein Wegeler, Rheingau (0,75l)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 2012 Geheimrat "J" Riesling Spätlese trocken Schatzkammer-Wein, Wegeler

The white-golden color of the 2012 Riesling trocken Geheimrat J reveals a spotlessly clean grape harvest, as does the clear, bright, elegant and concentrated nose of white-fleshed stone fruits. On the palate, this is a delicate and finessed as well as juicy but spicy and grippy Rheingau Riesling with plenty of extract and good length. This 2012 comes from a perfect bottle and will become a great Rheingau Riesling with further bottle age! Tasted as part of the big Geheimrat J vertical in Wiesbaden, January 2024. 2012 is an outstanding vintage with perfectly healthy grapes right to the end. "You had to—and could—play poker for a long time to get great qualities into the cellar," says Michael Burgdorf. The grapes for the Geheimrat J had must weights between 90° and 94° Oechsle, as well as wonderful acidity levels. The cold winter had caused a late budbreak, but nature caught up again; so, the start of flowering around June 6 was actually rather early, but it took place in less than ideal weather, which led to trickling. June was very wet in general. The start of ripening in mid-August was on average, and the harvest from October 1 to November 8 was exceptionally late. - Stephan Reinhardt, Apr. 2024