Another Dee Vine Tasting

Shane's Notes

We attended an incredible tasting at Dee Vine wines in San Francisco. Beate Knebel and Fred Prinz poured an assortment of their 2005 Rieslings. There was a distinct difference between the wines – Knebel’s wines were more concentrated and sweeter than Prinz’s. Each of Knebel’s wines tasted as if the classifications were one grade too low – the Kabinett tasted like a Spatlese, the Spatlese tasted like an Auslese, etc. Prinz’s wines were drier and zestier at all levels. Upon tasting his Kabinett, Jen exclaimed, “Wow, this actually is dry.”

We enjoyed everything we tasted but preferred Knebel’s wines. We are huge fans of massively concentrated Rieslings. Our notes are a bit sparse. We did want the note taking to detract from the sheer joy of drinking these wines. It is one of the best tastings we’ve attended.

$20 - 2005 Knebel Winninger Rottgen Kabinett
This is very concentrated for a Kabinett. The palate shows a sweet, heavy lemon flavor. It reminded us of a Spatlese.

$25 - 2005 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Rottgen Spatlese
Another very concentrated wine. The palate shows guava and sweet tropical fruits. It is very focused.

$32 - 2005 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Rottgen Spatlese Alte Reben
This one tastes like pear syrup. It is sweet and fruity with a bit of a tang on the finish.

$44 (375 ml) - 2005 Weingut Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Rottgen Auslese
Almost a Sauternes-like sweetness. Soft, sugary pear.

$44 (375 ml) - 2005 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Uhlen Auslese
Brown sugar, maple and honey.

We were thrilled to notice that Knebel was pouring two of her Beerenauslesen. These are the first two that we have tasted. They are so concentrated and rich that they almost don’t even taste like wine. It is an amazing experience to taste one.

$165 (375ml) - 2005 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Rottgen Beerenauslese
Nectar layered over funky minerality. Proves that too much of a good thing is wonderful.

$185 (375 ml) - 2005 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Winninger Uhlen Beerenauslese
Sweet baked apple. Sweet spices and graphite underneath.

$19 - 2005 Fred Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Kabinett
Dry, racy, steely, creamy lemon.

$27 - 2005 Fred Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Spatlese
Subtle but well made. Sweet fruit and minerality. Nutmeg on the finish.

$32 - 2005 Fred Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Spatlese Goldkapsel
Perfumey, floral and herbal. A subtle tanginess on the finish.

$39 (375 ml) - 2005 Fred Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Auslese
Elegant, concentrated and sweet but not overpowering. Best of his wines.