WTN: I like the Mosel better than the Pomerol

Wednesday with lobster-scallop rolls, potato salad, and broccoli salad, the 2002 Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (Mosel Saar Ruwer). I like S-O a lot, but usually buy the Zeltinger offerings. I don't even remember buying this, and it's not on my Cellartracker. In any case, I'm glad I DID buy it. Lighter styled Riesling, green apple and a twist of lime, a big streak of slate down the middle. Racy acidity balancing mild sweetness. A retaste late the following night after returning from a trip to the city, seems more floral, and a bit more creaminess and sweeter. A satisfying wine. B+

Thursday we had a dinner with David and a friend. A half bottle for the 3 imbibers was plenty, as Betsy was working and I was taking a group out later. The 375 of 2004 Bourgneuf (Pomerol) was significantly less satisfying than the kabinett. Surprisingly ripe for a '04, kirsch and plum fruit with a sweet edge. Big for Bourgneuf, but finishes very short. A bit of mocha. Could be a mediocre Napa Merlot. Probably popular with many, but not what I want in Pomerol. B-/C+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Hi Dale,

I'd be suspcious of anyone who does promise those things...

Selbach Oster has just appeared in Australia for the first time, 06 vintage, with some 05's in the shipment as well. I'm looking for a feel for what to order as I wont get to try them first. Can I ask about your preference for the Zeltingers over Wehlener?

cheers

Andrew

Selbach Oster has just appeared in Australia for the first time, 06 vintage, with some 05's in the shipment as well. I'm looking for a feel for what to order as I wont get to try them first. Can I ask about your preference for the Zeltingers over Wehlener?

I didn't actually mean that I preferred the Zeltinger (Schlossberg or Sonnenuhr) bottlings to the Wehlener, just that's what I buy. I don't remember ever trying the WS before. When I find a bottling I like, I tend to look for it vintage after vintage. Maybe David Bueker or the Fish will read this, they could probably give a more informed comparative analysis.

I will say at US pricing, Selbach Oster is one of the more consistently pleasing for the money producers I know of. I should buy more.

S-O's Zeltinger are usually better because he holds better vineyards within Zeltinger than in the Wehlener Sonnenuhr. However I am still going through a delicious case of 1995er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese GK.

Every 2002 bottling that I had from this Estate has proven very impressive indeed. I am not surprised you like it.

I rarely buy S-O, but remember the four 2005 Zeltinger Ausleses I tried as well-made efforts (two Schlossbergs: * and **; two Sonnenuhrs: ** and ***) The BAs were b-i-g disappointments, however!

Greetings / Fredrik L

[David M. Bueker]

I rarely buy S-O, but remember the four 2005 Zeltinger Ausleses I tried as well-made efforts (two Schlossbergs: * and **; two Sonnenuhrs: ** and ***) The BAs were b-i-g disappointments, however!

Greetings / Fredrik L

I don't know which BAs you tried, but the 2005 Bernkasteler Badstube BA and BA* were delicious, though similar (so I bought the no star). Selbach's auslesen have been across the board stunning the last few years. If you see any 2005 Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese* or Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spatlese* I would jump with both feet.

2006 is another successful vintage for them, and I would again recommend their auslesen, and I'm quite fond of their Zeltinger Himmelreich Kabinett Halbtrocken.

They were both Schlossbergs, BA and BA*.

Greetings / Fredrik L

Dale-
I had this Selbach-Oster a few weeks ago and essentially agree with your take on it. I found the lime aspect more prominent than your note indicates, but lime is not one of my favorite citrus orbs. Nits, nits, nits.
Bill