2012 Chardonnay R

After a stunningly brilliant collection in 2011, Hansjörg Rebholz has surpassed himself in 2012 with an array of wines almost without peer. It should thus come as no surprise that I consider this estate to be the best in the Pfalz and one of the top dozen or so producers in the country, excelling in many disciplines. Rebholz is not only one of the top producers of sparkling wines and a source for elegant weissburgunders, rich chardonnays and bracing rieslings, but his taut pinot noirs, which he only releases after several years of bottle age, are also always at the head of their class. As his style is a touch austere, the wines need time to unfold and are thus not always immediately accessible to the uninitiated. But they merit attention, as a recently opened 1990 Pinot Noir amply attested. (www.oekonomierat-rebholz.de) Also Recommended: 2012 Muskateller Trocken (88), 2012 Weisser Burgunder vom Loesslehm (85), 2012 Siebeldinger Weisser Burgunder vom Muschelkalk (87), 2012 π-no Trocken "R" (90), 2012 Albersweiler Latt Gewurztraminer Auslese (91), 2012 Riesling Trocken Okonomierat (85), 2011 Riesling Kabinett Trocken (86), 2012 Riesling Trocken vom Buntsandstein (87), 2012 Birkweiler Riesling Trocken vom Rotliegenden (89), 2012 Riesling Trocken vom Muschelkalk (88), 2011 Spätburgunder Tradition (88), 2011 Siebeldinger Spätburgunder vom Muschelkalk (92), 2007 π-no Sekt Brut (92). Other wines tasted: 2012 Weisser Burgunder Trocken, 2012 Riesling Trocken.