WTN: Stunning 2012 Kabinett from Selbach-Oster

[David M. Bueker]

2012 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (11/20/2013)
Whoa boy is this ever good! I am sure that the oechsle levels for this are into auslese range (what isn't these days), but for once I can actually say that it drinks as a kabinett. The aromas and flavors are delicate, yet persistent, focused on green things-green apples, mint, lime-and the underlyig minerality brings a tension to the wine that is very exciting. Great balance of fruit and acidity - the wine really does finish dry. It was hard to put down the glass. I bought a lot of this, but probably not enough, as it is going to be near impossible to not blow through every bottle in the next 6 months. Outstanding kabinett from Johannes Selbach!

Thanks for your tasting note, David. Unfortunately, I've yet to taste Selbach-Oster's 2012s.

By the way, I didn't notice a Wine Berserkers' post from CellarTracker for your tasting note on Falkenstein's 2012 Falkensteiner Hofberg Auslese. I'm not sure how that works, though.

[David M. Bueker]

I did cross-post it, but it fell off of page 1 pretty quickly Lars. Apparently it was not controversial enough.

It's no big deal. Yet I double-checked and didn't see it in either CellarTracker or Wine Berserkers. Then again, I go long periods without looking at these sites.

[David M. Bueker]

No CT note. I hadn't even loaded the wine in the system before I opened a bottle!

I'm glad you liked it.

Johannes Selbach has invited me twice to taste this year, but I couldn't make it both times. Oh, well. Last week, he was out of town, when another Swedish Texan, who knows him well and was working at Leitz, wanted to visit Selbach-Oster and Willi Schaefer with me. We ended up seeing other producers on the Mosel, before heading to the Ruwer and Saar.

Thanks for the note, David, it sounds like a great kabinett. They should be arriving in BC fairly soon. For some reason, one store put the 2011 Z. Schlossberg kabinett and spatlese on sale soon after they arrived, and I was happy to snap them up a mixed case at a good discount. Hopefully they'll try to the same thing with the 2012s!?! It sounds like a vintage I will really like. S-O always seem to have a lovely elegant purity to them, especially with some age.

Good for you John, great buying out there!!

[David M. Bueker]

John,

This kabinett is well worth seeking out, even at full price!