2019 Weingut Riehen “Le Petit Rouge”
– His Premier Cru Bottling
– Gives 1er Cru Chambolle, Gevrey a Run for Their Money
– At 1/3 the Price
– Nothing Like This – Like Smelling Truffles for the First Time
– Nose: So Sexy
– Incredible Complexity
– Penetrating
– Alpine Scents, Tree Bark
– Sexy Rich Herbals
– Some Midseason Cherry and Black Cherry
– Very Intense Minerality
– Unique and Distinct Swiss Quality
– Classy, Earthy and Ethereal Nose
– Palate: Insane Density – This Should Not Be Priced at an Entry Level
– Very Serious Mouthfeel
– Major Sap and Wonderful Deep and Dark Fruit
– A Unique Intensity
– Superb Concentration and Sap
– Startlingly Pure
– Incredible Minerality
– Integrated Opulence
– Insane Inner Mouth Aromas
– Sauvage Animal Character
– Like High Class Gevrey with a Twist
What the Heck?!?!?
We’ve sold this wine before and when we had it at the estate, it was quite good. In line with expectations. After all this is the debut vintage of Silas Weiss, the new protege of Hanspeter Ziereisen and Silas is quite young. Still, I was impressed with the wine at the estate.
I honestly don’t now what happened to this wine between then and when I had it in New York but I seriously undersold it. Seriously. This now drinks like very good Premier Cru Burgundy. Sort of a cross between the precision of Brisset and some of the sexiness of Buffet (but toned down). I immediately called Edel at Ziereisen and reserved all the remaining bottles.
You will not drink a better $40 Pinot Noir this year. If ever.
The Wine
Today’s wine is the 1er Cru level bottling. The 2019 Weingut Riehen “Le Petite Rouge” Pinot Noir can be had today for $39.99 a bottle on a 4-Pack. This is 100% Pinot Noir.
Nose starts out very quiet. Some alpine scents, some midseason cherry and black cherry, tree bark and very intense minerality. It’s holding so much back aromatically. But once is gets going the nose is like smelling white truffles for the first time. You’re like “what is this strange new smell I cannot get enough and oh my god now this is my favorite thing ever for the rest of my life.” It has this restrained sexiness. This wine is just ridiculous and gives Burg Premier Crus like Chambolle and Gevrey a run for the money at half the price. Not only was the wine profoundly delicious and stunningly well made, it also had a unique and distinct Swiss quality to it. What a nose. So interesting. Darker cherry fruits but very Pinot and very earthbound and alpine. Scents like I’ve never smelled before along with this beautiful pure black cherry aroma. Floral, jelly donut filling, late season cherry and rocking black cherry develop over many hours. Really classy, earthy and ethereal nose. It’s very Pinot. But also very Swiss. Not Burg. Not Cali. Not Germany. Swiss. I mean this thing really really delivers.
These wines really deliver on the palate. The mouthfeel is very serious with lots of acidity but also major sap and wonderful deep and dark fruit. It’s so flavorful. It really has a unique intensity to it. The tannins are remarkable. They have lively acid to them but also are also sweet. There is just beautiful balance and purity to this wine. It is stunning. I’m just wowed by it by it’s combo of this is new and this is utterly delicious. Superb concentration and sap. This is a gentle giant. Awesome fruit soak. Just so compelling. Startlingly pure. Incredible minerality and just the cleanest Pinot you’ve ever tasted. Incredible palate. Just a small hit of opulence and then leans into the minerals and the linearity. Superb tannins and perfect balance. Awesome structure and sap.
Wow what a finish. Best version of this ever. The finish is so so long. Insane inner mouth aromas. I love how ripe the pretty tannins are. There is a wonderful freshness that is from the acid but also from the minerality; it brings such a unique freshness. There is also a sauvage animal character as well after proper aeration. I settled on 3 hours of air before it gets going and it really reminds me of a high class Gevrey with a twist. It’s so juicy and has a really terrific finish. I think it has the structure for long term aging. Truly a great wine. This is limited.
For me for a new wine to be delicious and distinctive like this is as rare as it gets. It has something to it that I’ve never had or tasted before in Pinot Noir and I can only assume that it is the quality of growing grapes in the mountains. The AOC is Basel-Stadt and the soil is blend of limestone and loess. This needs, no demands, a two hour decant. It was pretty tight when I opened it but I had faith that a wine Hanspeter had a hand in would eventually reveal its greatness. And oh man is it great.
Please call Cheryl at 949 378 5251 after emailing with your firstorder if you are a first time customer (we prefer not to receive credit card numbers over E-Mail).
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I love drinking and selecting wines – but my passion for teaching people about wine is almost as big. I’m happy to announce a block of time each day where people can call me just to chat about wine in general. These blocks are NOT intended to sell wine (I do that all day). This is to talk to me about wine pairings or great producers or how long to age wines or styles of wine making or the latest wine controversy. My goal is to help people learn more about wine and enjoy it more. Call me at 917-912-4355 from 4-7EST Monday – Friday.
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