Winzerhof Thörle
Probstey Spätburgunder
Rheinhessen, Germany
Absolutely stunning out of the gates, with a deep, creamy nose of mid-season cherry, dark cherry, black cherry, raspberry spice cake, leather and a faint birthday-cake sweetness, all framed by beautifully integrated wood and a very clear limestone signature. The palate is a nuclear detonation of tiny-berry fruit, with extraordinary clarity, juiciness, freshness and energy, plus velvety, beautifully articulated tannins and outrageous inner-mouth aromas. There is an almost holographic intensity to the wine, as if every liquid molecule explodes with fruit and mineral detail. The sweetness and freshness are in remarkable balance, the finish is long and limestone-driven, and this has enormous upside potential toward 9.7 or even 9.8 as it continues to open.
After about 75 minutes this moved higher. The finish is epic, nearly two minutes long, with beautifully hierarchical layers of dark cherry fruit, limestone and serious, perfectly articulated tannin. Tremendous clarity, intensity and structure, with the fruit still absolutely detonating through the finish. Remarkable wine with easily another decade ahead of it. 9.6 to 9.7.
Absolutely stunning out of the gates, with a deep, creamy nose of mid-season cherry, dark cherry, black cherry, raspberry spice cake, leather and a faint birthday-cake sweetness, all framed by beautifully integrated wood and a very clear limestone signature. The palate is a nuclear detonation of tiny-berry fruit, with extraordinary clarity, juiciness, freshness and energy, plus velvety, beautifully articulated tannins and outrageous inner-mouth aromas. There is an almost holographic intensity to the wine, as if every liquid molecule explodes with fruit and mineral detail. The sweetness and freshness are in remarkable balance, the finish is long and limestone-driven, and this has enormous upside potential toward 9.7 or even 9.8 as it continues to open.
After about 75 minutes this moved higher. The finish is epic, nearly two minutes long, with beautifully hierarchical layers of dark cherry fruit, limestone and serious, perfectly articulated tannin. Tremendous clarity, intensity and structure, with the fruit still absolutely detonating through the finish. Remarkable wine with easily another decade ahead of it. 9.6 to 9.7.
The first whiff you know you’re in the presence of greatness. Soaring, vivid cherry fruit. Just towering in its vividness and intensity. Smokey and just a gobsmack to the nostrils of pure minerality that is just so clear. Just a wow nose. Thorle 19 Pinots hit different. It’s a cherry stank. Tiny berry but also big perfectly ripe berries. This jumps like few noses can. The palate is just elite sweetness with even more elite elegance. This wine floats. No stinging like a bee. Just the butterfly part. The dark cherries just abound on the nose and the palate. Just the best Probstey by miles. And 18 is great! Look at my note! But it’s not this. A heavenly perfume after air. The palate is so complete and the elegance is best I’ve ever had at Thorle. But that fruit is so on point and so clear. Wow is this getting long. Another level. This wine is another level entirely of German Pinot. It gets sweeter, deeper and more elegant. An Asian spice is in the nose now. This is firmly in the Vosne Romanee camp of German Pinot.
The first whiff you know you’re in the presence of greatness. Soaring, vivid cherry fruit. Just towering in its vividness and intensity. Smokey and just a gobsmack to the nostrils of pure minerality that is just so clear. Just a wow nose. Thorle 19 Pinots hit different. It’s a cherry stank. Tiny berry but also big perfectly ripe berries. This jumps like few noses can. The palate is just elite sweetness with even more elite elegance. This wine floats. No stinging like a bee. Just the butterfly part. The dark cherries just abound on the nose and the palate. Just the best Probstey by miles. And 18 is great! Look at my note! But it’s not this. A heavenly perfume after air. The palate is so complete and the elegance is best I’ve ever had at Thorle. But that fruit is so on point and so clear. Wow is this getting long. Another level. This wine is another level entirely of German Pinot. It gets sweeter, deeper and more elegant. An Asian spice is in the nose now. This is firmly in the Vosne Romanee camp of German Pinot.
Mar 25th, 2022