Limbering up my Riesling muscles for the TalkShoe tomorrow. Had a few of the guys over last night to sample some of Germany's best wine export.
2004 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken
2004 Schaefer-Frohlich Riesling Halbtrocken
Both of these off-dry wines showed very well with minerally, fruity and saline notes. Just barely off-dry for both of them it was fun how everyone kept saying "#1 is sweeter...no, wait #2 is sweeter...nope it's #1...now it's #2." Neither was notably sweet, but each had lots of bright fruit that just kept pushing through.
2004 Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
2005 Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
A mini-vertical that really showed the difference in the two vintages. It also showed that some 2004s are finally starting to shut down. The '04 was slightly muted, but swirling brought out lime edged peach fruit that was balanced with crisp acidity. The '05 was a powerhouse (still is as I sip a little while typing), all lime-ade and peach juice as well, but more depth, more substance & ultimately more satisfying, with a tart citrus zest finish keeping everything clean. These are both delicious kabinetts that bear some resemblance to what a kabinett should be, even if the 2005 is a bit over the top.
2001 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Spatlese
2002 St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese
Two very tasty wines showing totally different aspects of German Riesling. The Spreitzer was taut and linear, with more transparent and stony flavors, while the St. Urbans-Hof was like drinking a honey-drizzed peach (exactly what the Goldtropfchen is supposed to give). The Spreitzer could use some mroe age, while the richness of the St. Urbans-Hof made it more accesible despite its youth.
2003 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Auslese
2005 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese
The powerhouse flight, and two wines in totally different styles. The Donnhoff is clearly still closed, but 30 minutes in the glass & it gives up cherries & apples and any number of assorted fruit flavors (Nahe fruit salad anyone - thanks Michael Broadbent). Underneath it all there's sufficient (if not abundant) acidity, and depth of material for many years of profitable aging. Delicious, and it would have been my WOTN except that the Selbach just trounced it to bits. The Schlossberg Auslese was my wine of the vintage at the preview tasting in June 2006, and over a year later it is still my wine of the vintage, with electric aromatics that closely resemble Eiswein, and stunning intensity of flavors that defy analysis because there's just so much there. All I can really say is that I think Selbach-Oster is one of the top 3 producers of Auslese in Germany, and that this wine will be a monument for decades to come (and it's not even the one with stars on the label). Stunning.