Aaron Tan

9.9

One of the best evenings of wine I’ve had this year, and it was just focused on this duo. Opened as inspiration for this year’s red pick at Miao Lu (a name to remember for those reading. I’ll say it here first - some of the best Pinot’s and Chard’s in the world will be coming out of this project high up in Yunnan!), and they both gave great context to the task.

When I harvested with Klaus-Peter in 2017, the vineyards bore the scars of hail, every last one of them. The damage was manifest in what we came to call "hail berries" (misshapen berries). To my untrained palate, they tasted perfectly fine. Naturally, I asked KP why we were discarding them, and his response, while not entirely unexpected, was still astonishing (paraphrasing of course): "I don't need to know precisely what they do," he said, "but if there's even a chance they might diminish the wine by 1%, they're gone. And these? They look capable of much worse."

That unyielding spirit of his was, I must admit, my torment at Abtserde, the vineyard hit hardest by the hail. We spent an entire day sorting and picking a single row - granted, the rows were long, but the pace was glacial. The true enemy, though, wasn’t the relentless sorting, but the wasps. Those little demons made an already grueling task even more daunting, dodging their stings as we plucked berries one by one, like selecting pearls from a troubled sea. What we ended up with were, quite literally, tiny gems - "caviar" berries of purity. By day’s end, the sight was something to behold. Despite the torment, the hard work was unquestionably worth it. The 17’ Abtserde is my wine of the vintage.

I’ve had the 17’ Abtserde on numerous occasions but this takes the cake as the best (note to self: best to decant a young Abtserde hard). It is a marvel of purity and depth, with its nose evoking Meyer lemon, iodine, chalk, and flint. These aromas reappear on the palate with a nearly overwhelming intensity, blending piquant brightness and mineral-rich concentration. With more air, a floral, bittersweet herbal note very typical of the vineyard appears (smells like the place even). As the evening unfolded, the wine seemed to grow younger, each glass more lively than the last. The final sip was almost painfully austere, like drinking pure limestone, its explosive palate held together by sharp acidity and a palpable, phenolic grip. The finish seemed endless. One of my best Keller experiences this year. — 3 months ago

Jarett Wilcoxen

9.0

Clean and refreshing — 9 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.0

Surprisingly fresh for a metal enclosure. — 5 years ago

Barb Anderson

8.9

A nice Malbec, fruity nose, mild finish paired with great friends! — 7 years ago

Sharon B

9.4

Charcuterie dinner with my good friend!! This wine goes delicious with everything in front of me! Excellent wine! — 8 years ago

with Rosa

Briana McDougall

9.3

The whole Shameless Hussy collection is yummy. — 9 years ago

James Forsyth

8.9

#wbc18 Hard Row to Hoe Point Lovely Pinot Noir from Lake Chelan @Delectable Wine blood orange. Thin but good. — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

If you think you know Pinot noir and haven't had enderle and moll. You dont know shit. The first hour was crazy lilacs - chambolle. Then it gets interesting. Hard to describe. Nose is savory gun smoke with porcinis. PalAte is hard to describe because there is nothing like it. Some gun smoke. Some sweetness. Savory. Some medium weight fruit. Tingling acidity. I didn't study Joyce in college so my wine note skills lack black belt bullshit but this is complex as hell. Wine geek heaven. Jesus fuck. Just an off the hook outlier Pinot. Totally different expression than anything I've had. You could have the range of great Pinot every year in a row and say wtf the next day if you had this. Genius. Fass selections wine. — 8 years ago

with Lyle

Hannah Mcchesney

9.0

Delish! Strawberries, pretty dry and fruity. — 8 years ago

Jeannette Montgomery

9.2

The 2010 vintage is delicate, restrained, and delightful. Balanced acidity with fresh fruit - and miles to go. Beauty. — 10 years ago

with Lindsey