I was really hoping for more here, but it ended up being a little disappointing.
Remember folks, get the right Dr Thanisch!
**2019 Dr. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Kabinett**- I wish this wine showed better. A very short finish left you wanting more time to analyze the notes but it was actually difficult.
Upon initially opening the bottle I would’ve bet every dollar I have that I was tasting a gewurztraminer. Lychee, white flowers, and Asian pear were incredibly unexpected, and weird. Saffron and a ripe peach undertone told me we were in the Doctor vineyard.
After some time to open up, the nose had characteristics that remind me a lot of botrytis, but I don’t know if this vineyard was affected at the time of harvest.
Ripe peach, ripe pear, nectarine, honey, underripe pineapple, mango and even papaya were showing up on the palate, but would be gone within about 5-10 seconds, leaving a light green apple flavor with a touch of acidity.
A lot of the Kabinett Rieslings I’ve been tasting lately have been higher acid, lower sugar, super concentrated, and have tremendous finishes (I still can’t get over the Selbach Oster).
I’ve been wanting to put a Bernkasteler Doctor of some kind on my international Riesling shelf, but I feel like I may have made a mistake with this bottle.
remco27
I have been contemplating to buy a bottle of Doctor myself. And I am also worried about choosing the wrong producer. Perhaps Schloss Lieser Thomas Haag is the safest, but also more expensive, choice.
I_am_Foley666
Thanls for this review! It sounds like a really intruiging wine, just way too short. I haven’t had much Kabinett of late. Would you say that the paradigm has shifted somewhat?
Loirettoux
Might it have been too young to show its potential?
Winter_Current9734
Funny thing those Kabis. and the German wine system of grape quality in general. Kabinetts are often best in really difficult years. In good years, the full selection can be made by the winemaker, so the best grapes can go into the cru auslese/spätlese, the grapes can hang longer and the wines and the “worst” grapes go into Kabinetts. Like it should.
In 2022 for example, there aren’t many Spätlese and even less Auslese because the weather conditions were notoriously difficult at the Mosel/Rheingau. But since the Kabinett is the life and soul of every Mosel winery, a lot of 2022 Kabinetts are outstanding, as they profited from that. The Spätlese (eg Schloss Johannisberg) can even be ridiculous in quality.
2019 however was a perfect year. That’s why Kabinett quality sometimes lacks for the reasons above and I also noticed that before.
5 Comments
I was really hoping for more here, but it ended up being a little disappointing.
Remember folks, get the right Dr Thanisch!
**2019 Dr. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Kabinett**- I wish this wine showed better. A very short finish left you wanting more time to analyze the notes but it was actually difficult.
Upon initially opening the bottle I would’ve bet every dollar I have that I was tasting a gewurztraminer. Lychee, white flowers, and Asian pear were incredibly unexpected, and weird. Saffron and a ripe peach undertone told me we were in the Doctor vineyard.
After some time to open up, the nose had characteristics that remind me a lot of botrytis, but I don’t know if this vineyard was affected at the time of harvest.
Ripe peach, ripe pear, nectarine, honey, underripe pineapple, mango and even papaya were showing up on the palate, but would be gone within about 5-10 seconds, leaving a light green apple flavor with a touch of acidity.
A lot of the Kabinett Rieslings I’ve been tasting lately have been higher acid, lower sugar, super concentrated, and have tremendous finishes (I still can’t get over the Selbach Oster).
I’ve been wanting to put a Bernkasteler Doctor of some kind on my international Riesling shelf, but I feel like I may have made a mistake with this bottle.
I have been contemplating to buy a bottle of Doctor myself. And I am also worried about choosing the wrong producer. Perhaps Schloss Lieser Thomas Haag is the safest, but also more expensive, choice.
Thanls for this review! It sounds like a really intruiging wine, just way too short.
I haven’t had much Kabinett of late. Would you say that the paradigm has shifted somewhat?
Might it have been too young to show its potential?
Funny thing those Kabis. and the German wine system of grape quality in general.
Kabinetts are often best in really difficult years. In good years, the full selection can be made by the winemaker, so the best grapes can go into the cru auslese/spätlese, the grapes can hang longer and the wines and the “worst” grapes go into Kabinetts. Like it should.
In 2022 for example, there aren’t many Spätlese and even less Auslese because the weather conditions were notoriously difficult at the Mosel/Rheingau. But since the Kabinett is the life and soul of every Mosel winery, a lot of 2022 Kabinetts are outstanding, as they profited from that. The Spätlese (eg Schloss Johannisberg) can even be ridiculous in quality.
2019 however was a perfect year. That’s why Kabinett quality sometimes lacks for the reasons above and I also noticed that before.