Nicola Morvillo

9.0

On 10-2-20 Torki — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

I'll start off by saying that I think less-than-ideal storage conditions marred this tasting with Kai. It's a struggle here really because I really like their Malaysian importer. I can understand the difficulties in maintaining an effective cold chain in Malaysia, so I sincerely hope this gets better.

Having said that, this was my favorite in Kai's line-up despite the slightly advanced wine. Good perfume, sporting smokey black fruits, herbs, spices, violets, and wood (which was a touch distracting). I felt the palate should have been livelier - dark-fruited, spicy, and earthy, with heavy charred notes permeating throughout. The finish has a lot fruit sweetness, with a lick of caramel and balsamic. Nice wine, though not one I'd actively seek.

To be frank I think too much oak was used here, but not in the same liberty as in Barossa Shiraz. It's more like Guigal vs Gonon... maybe that's a bit extreme... Jamet vs Gonon... though not quite right still. I like Kai, but I gotta follow my palate at times like this. — 6 years ago

Mark S.

9.0

Animal flavor. Leather. Still elegant and acidic. But when opening, cork stripped to inside of bottle. That means. 1982 @, Kai - JH, 190406-190601 — 7 years ago

Mark S.

9.0

A bit rich yeast. Rich acidity with citrus flavor. @, Kai, 190406 — 7 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.2

I heard something today on IDTT that exemplifies tasting this wine - never explicitly was the term "great" terrior used, but I think it's safe to say that the discussion was about great terrior. A "great" vineyard isn't necessarily better than others in terms of quality... Or even necessarily need to represent the covering GI... but it is "great" because of clarity. It produces a unique expression CONSTANTLY, irrespective of vintage or producer. In short, it speaks precisely of a place... Cliché but truly. And that's Pettenthal! Time and time again I've seen this. With KP, Kai, Gunderloch, Kuhling-Gillot. Pettenthal is great and this wine sealed it for me.

Brought this to blind KP. It was an obvious choice since KP's tiny super plot was once part of FK Schmitt's holdings. Despite the differences with KP's insane 17' auction wine (vintage, style, vineyard size, philosophy), this wine was clearly Pettenthal. That cool and smoky elements that I've learned to associate with the vineyard, fine minerally backbone. Damn! This has to be one of the most tightly focused aged Auslese's I've had in a while. What a pristine bottle - all thanks to Roland's exquisite sourcing skills. Stone fruits, petrol, honey, spice, umami elements. Finish was admittedly one-dimensional. Could be longer. Still, what a lovely #rieslingstudy — 7 years ago

Polly Marie

8.9

Need to let it breathe before drinking, interesting flavor. Kai liked it — 9 years ago

義崇 平林

10

リカマンワインフェスタ。
華やかでフレッシュな香りー！！ — 9 years ago

Nancy Schnur

9.2

OST o Hawai’i Kai — 6 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Gorgeous wine and the most accessible young GG out there. Stunning in 18. Nose of lime blossom, white flowers, apricot, citrus, tangerine, huge mineral backbone, haunting and layered. Juicy and complex a wonderful tactile sweetness and then salty with huge acids and freshness. Balanced and so so pure. Explosive and juicy with insane energy and that tactile tensile sweetness. This is so good. I think Kai has perfected his style in 2018. Amazing palate presence and delicacy. — 6 years ago

Tom Inners

9.5

This is such a dynamic site. 1600ft above the valley floor, Wente clone on AXR-1 rootstock planted in 1982. This has white Burgundy nods written all over it in opening it tonight on 6/20/2019. Cheers John & Kai!

This is delish and the remaining bottles that capture this vineyard’s site expression still out there in the wild are worth celebrating. — 6 years ago

Mark S.

9.2

New comer and Meursault young vintage 2017, but quite smooth to make me high potential. Apple etc. rich aroma. @, Kai, 190406 — 7 years ago

Marc Olsen

9.0

With Kai at L’Oliva. Smooth and delicious! — 7 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

I love the Silvaner of Kai Schätzel. Wonderful nose of limestone, pithy vineyard peach and apricot, some cassis, so unique. Lavender. Stunning. Palate is rich and almost creamy but with mean acids on the finish. So pure. If a bit young. Terrific mouthfeel and serious power and concentration. I think this needs 3-4 years but it is all there. — 8 years ago

Andy Wigginton

9.3

Nice subtle complexity and balance. Dark fruit. The company made the wine even better! Love you all Sis, Mom, Jack, Kai, Vilat, and Kaylee. — 8 years ago

Lisa McKinnon

8.9

Absolutely buttery and full-bodied. Great with the Thai Kai salad at J. Alexander's. — 9 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

Elegant, like Lignier's Chaffots, but less tense and more round. Kai reckons it's due to some premature development (due to less than ideal storage), which I agreed. For a 15', the fruit should have been livelier, especially from this producer. Still delightful. Bouquet of dried strawberries, black cherries, cedar, and earth. The palate has a inner sweetness. Intense minerality permeates the mid-palate. Finishes with candied orange and earthy notes. Shorter, compared to the Lignier. Definitely the weaker pino of the night, but that might not have been the case if we had a perfect bottle 😉 — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.3

Brief notes from the VDP auctions, so take this with a grain of salt. Classic kabi and one of my favourites this auction. Juicy yellow stone fruits, herbs, racy acidity, impressive length. Very elegant.

NB: Kabi's from this set of auctions have been somewhat disappointing (looking at you Egon), but surprisingly, the Bad Krueznach auction delivered on some really classic and delicious kabi's, most of which went for reasonable prices. This kabi, the Goldloch from Joh. Bapt. Schafer (best value buy imo), the Kirchspiel from Groebe, Kai Schatzel's Pettenthal, and of course, the Keller Schubertslay. From the Mosel, I only really enjoyed the kabi's from Fritz Haag, Clemens Busch, and Grunhaus, but I felt they were playing on a lower level. Would be good to taste all these together again to compare. — 6 years ago

Mark S.

9.0

Elegant. Slightly leather flavor. Enough concentration. It takes more time to wake up? Still lots of tanning. 2nd day, I could feel the taste over the time from. Tar like. 1983 @, Kai - JH, 190406-190810 — 7 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.3

Underrated, or should I say underrepresented. You can hardly find these in the east coast, though the same can be said in the west (of Australia, in case anyone's wondering). Picked up one of the last bottles of the 2018 Lowboi Riesling from a store in Perth. Lucky me since it's sold out in most of the city.

The 2017 Lowboi Riesling was one of my favourite Aussie Rieslings last year, and the 2018's another winner. Pure energy! Laser precision, white florals, limey-citrusy goodness, salty acidity. Six months or so on lees has given it quite a lovely texture and a musky element. The use of RS (5 g/l) is brilliant - adds weight and softens the acidity, but finishes dry and long.

While "Lowboi" may sound like an upcoming underground rap artist, the wines are far from trying to be hip. They're serious, age-worthy Rieslings and Chardonnays. In fact, the actual origin of the name is a pointer - it pays tribute to the area and namesake where the winemaker's mother grew up in. Lowboi is the personal label of Guy Lyons, winemaker and heir of Forest Hill. Trust me when I say there's real talent here, as I've had the pleasure of working and spending many nights drinking with the man himself. And let's not talk about the impressive resume, having spent time at perhaps the best wineries of their cepage - Gonon and Keller.

The Porongurup Riesling comes from dry-farmed vines planted in 1985. South-facing, the aspect might surprise some as it goes against all convention in the southern hemisphere. But like Kai Schatzael's north-facing auction Pettenthal, Guy probably saw the Springview Vineyard's potential in producing wines of greater finesse in an increasingly warmer planet. Taste this and they will be no questions asked! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Nose reveals, perfumed floral & spiced fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum and hues of blue fruits. Black licorice, vanilla, pepper, both chocolates and violet & fresh dark florals. The body is M-M+ with M+ tannins. The fruits are ruby; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, black plum and hues of blue fruits. Black licorice, pepper, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks and fresh violets. The acidity is nicely rounded. The finish balances with 1/3 of each; fruit, earth and chocolate. Photos of; the view of the winery as you drive up, barrel tasting (15 & 16 fruit is very good) with our host Kai, a shot of their small production area and their tasting bar. — 8 years ago