Here we have a mixture of Rhone, Mosel, Rheinhessen and California.
The Domaine des Roches Neuves 2017 Clos Romain is a Chenin Blanc which is currently far too young and only shows its potential. The wine has blossoms, a bit of white chocolate, a full-body, acidity and mineral. It has a lot of potential but requires minimum 5 years to show its full beauty. 18/20 points.
The Ridge 2015 Monte Bello Chardonnay is an awesome Chardonnay with Californian opulence and European elegance. It is very complex with cake batter, butter, cigar box, rosewood, honey, blossoms and tobacco and has full-body, density, balance, a long finish. We have drunk this wine several times over the years and it has gotten better and better each time. 19.5/20 points.
The Jos. Christoffel jr. 2010 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese *** shows the beauty of sweet Mosel Riesling with low alcohol, freshness, lots of fruit and the perfect interplay of sweetness and acidity. The wine has apricot, peach, floor wax, a medium-body, density and perfect balanced sweetness. It goes perfectly with spicy Asian style cuisine. 18.8/20 points.
The Peth 2009 Erlkönig (Westhofener Rotenstein) comes from a small winery in Rheinhessen which is not so well known. The wine is really powerful with lots of barrique, butter, black cherry, a full-body, density, balance and a long finish. 17.3/20 points.
We like the mineral and animalic style of the wines which were made by Randy Dunn in the 90s. But the Dunn 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is equal with blackberry, animalic, powdered sugar, crushed rocks, cassis, a full-body, a long finish, balance and fine tannins. With aeration it also gets dark chocolate and bacon. 19/20 points.
The famous To-Kalon vineyard is owned by Beckstoffer, who sells the grapes to wineries, and by Mondavi. Perhaps the Robert Mondavi 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve To Kalon Vineyard is the wine with the best price-performance ratio of all wines coming from the To-Kalon vineyard. The wines has noticeable barrique, elderberry, blackberry, some cassis, a full-body and is a bit earthy. 19/20 points.
