Two different wines - both Rieslings from the Mosel, but very different from each other. One is from the Mittel Mosel, whereas the other is from the less familiar Terrassenmosel. And the vintages - 2003 and 2008 - could not be much further apart in terms of ripeness and style.
2008 Melsheimer Reiler Mullay-Hofberg Riesling Kabinett
This Terrassenmosel winery is, like Clemens Busch, an Ecovin member, and has been organic for the past 16 years. Thorsten Melsheimer bottles his wines with very limited amounts of sulfur.
Highly floral nose. Compact, crisp, medium-bodied, creamy, well balanced, with good underlying acidity; rather sweet for a 2008 Kabinett, but with the acid that I’d expect from that vintage. Transparently mineral, with citrus, pear, cherry, and currant flavors. Citrus zest on the finish. Very good+.
2003 Hoffmann-Simon Köwericher Laurentiuslay Riesling Spätlese
Citrus/tropical/apple nose. Full-bodied, quite ripe – it is a 2003 after all – slightly crisp, balanced, with moderate acidity. Lightly mineral, with surprisingly mature-tasting tropical fruit and apricot flavors. Clearly, this is an Auslese in everything but name. Good/very good.