2012 Weingut Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Drachenstein Riesling Dragonstone - Germany, Rheingau (5/28/2016)
My experiences with the Drachenstein Riesling/Dragonstone goes back more than 15 vintages. There have been times when it was so far above its class that the low price was almost silly. There was also a phase in the mid 2000s when the wine became too big, too sweet for the casual quaffing that I look for in this range. The 2012 looks back to some of the great Drachenstein/Dragonstone years such as 2001 and 2002, with a more balanced, brighter, fresher feel and more exposure of the minerally bones that exist in the better versions from this vineyard. I am extremely happy that the sweetness seems to have been backed off, making for a drink that is both fun on its own, and has the capacity to work with food at a young age, rather than waiting a decade for the wine to slim down.