This is the second time I've tried this. Last time was in September or so.

Onion skin color. Medium nose - maybe shutting down. Citrus notes, with lychees and honey. Palate of sweet, pink grapefruits and honey. Not much else. This wine is very good but pales in comparison to other 2001 Kabs from the region, e.g. J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr. 86 points.

The Josephhöfer is a monopole next to the Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Kesselstatt is one of these grand old German estates that rested on its reputation for too long (IMHO). They also own a piece of the Scharzhofberger in the Nahe, if you don't feel like paying Egon Müller's prices for wines from the Saar's best vineyard

A very good producer IMO.

Kesselstatt gets overlooked in my opinion. Much like Selbach-Oster and Loosen, they produce very reliable wines that are occasionally stellar ('97 Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese comes to mind, as well as '01 Josephhofer Spatlese).

Given their range of vineyard sources (now including some Bernkasteler Doctor!) one could drink nothing but their wines & get a darned good cross-section of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.

Prices are decent as well.

The 1997 Josephshöfer Spätlese was very nice...had it with Otisabdul in November. I think I gave it a 91 and he a 92.

1997 is a vastly underrated vintage in the Mosel. It's also great in the Ruwer. I've had a number of '97 Mosel wines over the last 6 months and they have all been showing very well.

Unfortunately I was not too high on the vintage when it was released, so I don't have a lot.