Had this with dinner tonight at my favorite bistro in Helsinki (Carelia - fantastic wine list). 96 euros, which is only about $20 higher than retail shelf price in the US. It is primarily Reisling with a field blend of Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat.

WOW! This is a fantastic wine. The color was luminescent yellow, like a chardonnay. Aromas of lychee, pears, and peach blossoms. The flavors flow like a slow creek - peaches, honey, pineapple, and minerals. The wine coats your tongue and lingers in the mouth like it has all the time in the world, then suddenly departs with a smooch. A noticeable trace of sweetness, with covert acidity. One of the best Alsatian wines I've ever had. 96P.

Paired superbly with sauteed pike-perch on a bed of leeks and white truffle sauce.

tsunami - you ever had this one?

Cheers,

Otis

The meal doesn't sound too bad either! Definitely sounds like a step up from the non-Grand Cru Deiss I've been drinking lately - I'll have to search out. Also this is not the only 1994 I've seen good reports on - I recall MBD having a VT from the same vintage that he raved about. I'm sure it'll be tough to hunt down by now....

Thanks for the notes.

It's wikkid pissa

Thanks TR. I checked the WS database. They rated this wine 93P. I think we are going to have a tough time finding another bottle, though. Only 75 cases were made.

Cheers,

Otis

Well, you'll just have to go back to the bistro & console yourself with something else off their wine list and contemplate your bad fortune of being stuck in Helsinki with all those gruesome Scandanavian types.

Wanna trade places?

It's wikkid pissa

TR, you read my mind. Unfortunately, we consumed the bistro's last bottle at dinner.

But today is another day. I am in Amsterdam and have no business meetings this afternoon. Accordingly, I am meeting with Stevie Cage at a wine bar where I will intoduce him to the fruit forward world of American zins (2000 Martinelli G&L and 1999 Robert Biale Black Chicken). In return, I am sure he will advance my tyrolean knowledge of ports.

Cheers,

Otis

Sounds like a great trip with just a bit of that bothersome business getting in the way of drinking your way through Northern Europe. Plus, there is little scenery downgrade from Finland to Netherlands as neither populace has been brutally bludgeoned by the ugly stick.

Say hello to the AMS contingent, I hope to be out that way next month for a couple of days, but unable to bring bottles from US, hopefully they won't hold that against me!

It's wikkid pissa

no, didn't ever taste this wine ,

when it crosses my way i will try it!

• 1994 Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg Grand Vin - France, Alsace, Riquewihr, Alsace Grand Cru AOC (7/7/2008)
  Purchased off the wine list at Topper's restaurant in Nantucket. This was in exceptional condition. The color was light gold, not amber like older Alsatian whites tend to get after 10+ years. No hints of oxidation either, as the nose pumped out glorious notes of magnolia blossoms, white peaches, and almonds. Supple, velvety mouthfeel and impeccable balance, with ripe nectarine, peach, and marzipan flavors. Some slight bortrytis adds a smooth softening presence that makes every sip a delight. This was almost exactly as I recollected back in 2003. No drop-off in quality and perhaps even a deepening of flavors. One of my favorite wines of the year so far. (95 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Cheers,

Otis

Fantastic luck that you found this same bottle on another restaurants winelist.

VM

I'm so jealous. When this wine was first released wines from Alsace were alot cheaper. I'm still going to try to seek one out with my brother. Thanks for the notes.