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Grosser Ring Tasting of 2007 wines from the Nahe, Mosel, Saar and Ruwer
German Embassy, London
Tasted June 11, 2008 by andrewstevenson.com with 2,139 views
Flight 1 - Weingut Dr Crusius, Nahe (5 notes)
White
2007 Weingut Dr. Crusius Traiser Weissburgunder Trocken
86 points
Melony fruit with huge minerality on the nose. Very, very dry on the palate. Where's this big acidity on the finish coming from in a pinot blanc?
White
2007 Weingut Dr. Crusius Top of the Rock Riesling Trocken
88 points
An enticing nose with lemon zest and sandstone. Gorgeous austerity and crispness. But very good complexity too. Heavy acidity on the finish. 88+/100
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Spätlese XIII
86 points
Very pure, minerally riesling on the nose. Quite crisp and very clean on the palate, but it seems to lack depth and character. Very drinkable though.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Dr. Crusius Traiser Bastei Riesling Spätlese Goldkapsel
87 points
There's lovely polished stone restraint on the nose. Very good palate. This has a very correct Spätlese feel. Amazing that it has very little acidity after the massive acidity on the other Crusius wines.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Auslese
88 points
Nice apples and peaches on the nose. Refined palate. Very clean and poised. Decent acidity on the finish.
Flight 2 - Schlossgut Diel, Nahe (5 notes)
White
2007 Schlossgut Diel Eierfels Riesling Trocken
86 points
The nose has suble pear and peach fruit. Nice palate with good balance and character. Powerful acidity on the finish.
White
2007 Schlossgut Diel Riesling Dorsheim trocken
84 points
Quite extracted pear fruit on the nose with hints of eau de vie. Very dry palate. Giving very little in the way of absolute pleasure.
White
2007 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Pittermännchen Riesling Kabinett
88 points
A fresh, minerally nose. There's a bit of weight on the palate. Very nicely balanced with good character.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Goldloch Riesling Spätlese
85 points
Lemon zesty and minerally on the nose - a wet pebble minerality. Though there's also a hint of wet dog. Decent, but walking a few paces behind the Eierfels and Pittermännchen Kab.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Goldloch Riesling Auslese
88 points
The nose is fresh and zesty with a talcy minerality. Nice weight and mouthfeel. A bit flat on the middle then sweetness comes through waving wildly.
Flight 3 - Dönnhoff, Nahe (5 notes)
White
2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
88 points
The nose has sweet red apples and a touch of lime. Very nice palate - very poised and finely balanced. Very big, slightly aggressive acidity on the finish.
White
2007 Dönnhoff Riesling
84 points
A fairly zesty nose. Good palate. Not overly interesting, but fine.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Felsentürmchen Spätlese
91 points
Pear fruit and a marble dusty, quarry minerality. Very firmly poised. Very elegant and lovely. Very good acidity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
91 points
From a half.
Very good nose with some apricots and sweet apples. This is a very elegant Auslese: very balanced with great purity of fruit. There's plenty of acidity in there, but it feels to be already integrating.
Very good nose with some apricots and sweet apples. This is a very elegant Auslese: very balanced with great purity of fruit. There's plenty of acidity in there, but it feels to be already integrating.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese
86 points
A gentle appley peach nose. Very good attack. But it falls off a little, and it starts to feel a bit extracted and over concentrated.
Flight 4 - Weingut Emrich-Schönleber, Nahe (5 notes)
White
2007 Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Lenz
82 points
A clean fresh nose. Very dry palate. Lacks interest a bit.
White
2007 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Großes Gewächs
83 points
A rather murky nose. Decent palate. A bit unexceptional.
White
2007 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Riesling Kabinett
87 points
There's a bit of sulphur on the nose disguising some peachy fruit. Racy palate - very vibrant. A very pleasant wine.
White - Off-dry
2007 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Auslese
89 points
From a half. Peachy nose with some botrytis hints. This is just too young to write anything meaningful about it at the moment: it really needs time to knit together on the palate, and just feels a bit separate at the moment. As a wine to drink now, 85/100, but potentially 88-90/100
White - Off-dry
2007 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spätlese
86 points
Apples, peach and citrus on the nose. Good palate. There aren't any fireworks, but it's solidly done.
Flight 5 - Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe (5 notes)
White
2007 Kruger-Rumpf Weissburgunder Trocken
81 points
A dullish nose with a chalky minerality. Searingly dry palate. This just feels like it's had all the pleasure fermented out of it in an attempt to make something as dry as possible. There's just no fruit there at all. Like most trockens, it may improve with 4+ years of ageing, but I'm not going to bother finding out.
White
2007 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Pittersberg Riesling Kabinett trocken
83 points
Very crisp nose with just a hint of white fruits and flowers. Bone dry with the acidity to tame an Auslese.
White
2007 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett
88 points
This has a good open nose with some citrus and white peaches. Very pleasant palate. There is a nice ripeness to the fruit, balanced by an acidity that's already reasonably integrated.
White
2007 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Pittersberg Riesling Pi
88 points
12.5%
Not a lot on the nose, just very faint infantile riesling characteristics. Crisp, clean palate with some depth and character. Rather pleasant.
Not a lot on the nose, just very faint infantile riesling characteristics. Crisp, clean palate with some depth and character. Rather pleasant.
White - Off-dry
2007 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Spätlese
88 points
There's a pleasing subtle minerality on the nose. Good palate. Not world-shaking, but well made and already drinking with pleasure, with definite scope for improvement. 88/100 for now. Potentially c. 91/100
Flight 6 - Gutsverwaltung Niederhausen Schlossböckelheim (5 notes)
White
2007 Gutsverwaltung Niederhausen Schlossböckelheim Niederhäuser Steinberg Riesling Trocken
87 points
Crisp, clean minerality on the nose and one the palate. Very austere with über-searing acidity on the finish.
White
2007 Gutsverwaltung Niederhausen Schlossböckelheim Niederhäuser Hermannsberg Riesling Trocken
88 points
The nose has lemon and a crisp minerality. Very austere in the mouth, with quite a lemony feel - or grapefruit, rather. Improved with food.
White - Off-dry
2007 Gutsverwaltung Niederhausen Schlossböckelheim Schloßböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling feinherb
89 points
Quite a nice nose with crisp stone fruit. Good palate with a pleasant roundness. Fine acidity on the finish. Great length.
White - Off-dry
2007 Gutsverwaltung Niederhausen Schlossböckelheim Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese
91 points
There's elegant restraint on the nose; not rich, but is a slight feel of raisining to the fruit character. Very good palate: clean and elegant. Very well balanced. Lovely depth and some complexity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Gutsverwaltung Niederhausen Schlossböckelheim Schloßböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Auslese
89 points
A rather closed nose with some fresh lemon juice. There's a nice richness on the palate. It has an austere feel, but also a lovely acidity.
Flight 7 - Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (5 notes)
White
2007 Weingut Clemens Busch Riesling Spätlese trocken
79 points
Very crisp, white peach and pear nose. Very, very high acidity. Really rather unbalanced, and I don't like it.
White
2006 Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Felsterrasse Riesling
82 points
The nose has concentrated pear drops and weak calvados, along with some white chocolate. Very strange palate. All the right elements are there, but (as Eric Morecambe might say) not in the right order. There's an overlying extracted feel that doesn't entirely appeal to me.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Clemens Busch Pündericher Marienburg Riesling Spätlese
90 points
A peachy round nose with a very perfumed minerality, almost tending towards rose petals. Very rich for a Spätlese - it must be near Auslese. On the palate, there are round, ripe, rich riesling flavours. Very elegant. There's almost a hint of butterscotch on the palate.
White
2007 Weingut Clemens Busch Riesling Kabinett trocken
82 points
12%
Rather pear droppy on the nose. Very, very dry attack - aggressively, nay violently so. There's a certain concentration on the middle of the palate, but overall this offers no pleasure whatsoever.
Rather pear droppy on the nose. Very, very dry attack - aggressively, nay violently so. There's a certain concentration on the middle of the palate, but overall this offers no pleasure whatsoever.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Clemens Busch Pündericher Marienburg Riesling Auslese
92 points
Nicely nuanced ripe peaches and apricots on the nose. Sweet and full on the palate. This is a big, full, correct Auslese with a nice interesting character. One of the better Auslesen in a year which seems to have favoured Spätlesen.
Flight 8 - Grans-Fassian, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (5 notes)
White
2007 Grans-Fassian Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spätlese trocken S
83 points
Very fresh nose with almost limey fruit and gentle minerality. Decent palate. A bit unbalanced towards acidity.
White
2007 Grans-Fassian Hofberg Riesling
83 points
A very interesting nose with apples, honeydew melon and peas/broad beans. Rich and full on the palate, this is interesting and a little unusual. Some acidity on the finish. Good.
White
2007 Grans-Fassian Trittenheimer Riesling Kabinett
89 points
Nice zesty nose with a pleasing minerality. Very pleasant palate. This works very well. It's just a touch off-dry, but it has the acidity to support it.
White - Off-dry
2007 Grans-Fassian Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese
88 points
Peach fruit with a hint of pears on the nose. This is a nice clean Spätlese with just the right weight. But a bit boring, maybe?
White - Off-dry
2007 Grans-Fassian Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Auslese
89 points
There's very good minerality on the nose - quite chalky and talcy overlaying the ripe fruit. Nice pleasant mouthfeel - round and open. Quite forward and integrated for its (lack of age).
Flight 9 - Fritz Haag, Mosel (5 notes)
White
2007 Fritz Haag Riesling
88 points
A very precise young riesling nose. Crisp yet full palate. Rounded, but then it quickly dries off as the acidity takes hold.
White
2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett
90 points
At the moment, the nose feels a bit unfocussed and out of sorts with itself. Very nice palate though. It works very well in the mouth. Good fruit; fairly dry. Nice acidity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
92 points
An interesting nose with some extracted, spirity pears. Nice rich palate, but with excellent balance. Very pleasing balancing acidity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
93 points
A bit closed on the nose. Very precise and focussed palate. Peachy and lemon flavours with a gentle richness and sweetness.
White - Off-dry
2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
93 points
The nose has apples and peaches with some air freshener notes. Nice weight. This has a real Auslese weight, but possibly not the sweetness. Impeccable balance.
Flight 10 - Reinhold Haart, Mosel (5 notes)
White
2007 Weingut Reinhold Haart Riesling Haart to Heart
86 points
A decent nose with minerality to the fore. Crisp, fresh palate. Good acidity. Interesting.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Grafenberg Riesling Spätlese
89 points
There's ripe fruit behind some gassiness. Very correct palate - and lovely with it too. Working very well for me. Textbook Mosel riesling.
White
2007 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett
89 points
A touch gassy and sulphury on the nose, masking the fruit. Good palate. There's no fireworks, but this is a good solid, proper Kabinett with nice finesse.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Auslese
86 points
An ungiving nose. Quite green. There's something odd about it. Not terribly exciting. All pretty correct, but a bit on the dull side.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese
89 points
The nose has floral white fruits and talcy minerality. Nice balance very much evident. But it's more austere than the Grafenberg. Though some sweetness comes through towards the finish.
Flight 11 - Willi Haag, Mosel (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett feinherb
87 points
Mmm ... now this is a nice nose. Layers of appley, peachy fruit. Quite crisp on the palate. Very fine acidity.
White
2007 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett
90 points
A fairly subdued nose. Very nice palate. This is a vibrant young Kabinett offering lots of pleasure now, but also with some staying power.
White - Off-dry
2007 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
90 points
There's a floral note and white peaches on the nose. Crowd-pleasing palate. Does what it should with some interest.
White - Off-dry
2007 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese
92 points
Quite a wet slate nose. Zingy, vibrant palate. Very young feeling, but it augurs well for the future. 88-92/100
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese
90 points
A very attractive nose with concentrated oily peaches and cream, with some diesel minerality already. Huge acidity that has yet to fully integrate. Some slight extracted spirity fruit flavours still need time to resolve themselves too.
Flight 12 - Schloss Lieser, Mosel (4 notes)
White
2007 Schloss Lieser Riesling
86 points
There's something slightly fishy on the nose - sardines? Maybe more of an ozone note? Interesting, pleasant palate with nice balance and weight.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
88 points
Not very Auslese like on the nose - just some crisp white fruit and a hint of minerality. There's an elegant light richness on the palate.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Lieser Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
89 points
A rather ungiving nose, but the palate fulfils. Very correct feel with very good balance.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Lieser Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel
93 points
A rather slight nose, but bery good palate. This is really giving what it should. There is lovely fresh, sweet fruit, but with a beautiful acidity, with quite a malic feel. Very enjoyable now, should be truly great in 5 or 10 years plus.
Flight 13 - Dr Loosen, Mosel (5 notes)
White
2007 Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett
86 points
Lovely lemon sherbert nose. Very good palate on the attack. A bit sweet as you let it sit in the mouth. There is some acidity, but not huge, on the finish.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese
92 points
There are almost hints of apple and blackberry pie on the nose. Precisely focussed palate. Impressive. 92+/100
White
2007 Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett
91 points
There are fresh limey apples on the nose. In the mouth, this works very well. Clean and fresh with lovely riesling character and excellent balance.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese
89 points
A rather slight nose but with a nice minerality. Precise attack. Works well initially, but becomes a little over-concentrated.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. Loosen Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese
93 points
The nose has a nice minerality alongside some fresh riesling fruit. Focussed and pure on the palate, this is very fine and elegant with lovely poise.
Flight 14 - JJ Prüm, Mosel (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2004 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
91 points
The nose has slightly sour crab apples. Lovely, vigorous palate.
White
2004 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
90 points
A touch limey on the nose. Nice palate: good fruit balanced by precise acidity.
White - Off-dry
2004 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
91 points
A rather restrained nose with some apples and a hint of peach. Very precise palate. Long and focussed.
White - Off-dry
2006 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
85 points
A dull nose. Flat palate. Rather odd. I hope this is faulty ... though as the stand's manned by a Prüm, I presume not.
White - Off-dry
2005 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
90 points
A very restrained nose - very slight. Precise palate with quite a marmaladey feel. Really good wine that's only going to improve over the next several decades.
Flight 15 - Studert-Prüm, Mosel (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Studert-Prüm Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Spätlese feinherb
80 points
Peach and talc on the nose. But very unbalanced on the palate. Not working for me.
White
2007 Studert-Prüm Riesling
87 points
A fairly cirsp minerally nose. There's pear fruit on the palate. Works well overall.
White
2007 Studert-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
89 points
Very pleasant nose: ripe apples and a hint of cider. Good appley palate, with a nice young riesling feel and very nice minerality.
White - Off-dry
2006 Studert-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese **
88 points
The nose has roast apples and a talcy minerality. This is a nice, pleasant Auslese, well restrained. Nice finish with great length. Not over-thrilling though.
White - Off-dry
2006 Studert-Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese
90 points
A rich, slightly apricotty nose with apples behind. Nice weight on the palate. Very well balanced. Good integrated acidity.
Flight 16 - Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben-Thanisch), Mosel (4 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben-Thanisch) Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese
87 points
A very minerally nose. Nothing wrong on the palate. There's a good gentle sweetness and a good acidity to balance it. But overall, it's not really exciting me.
White
2007 Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben-Thanisch) Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett
85 points
This is a nice traditional Kabinett - fresh and lemon-zesty, though a bit short on acidity to counterbalance the ripeness of the fruit.
White - Off-dry
2007 Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben-Thanisch) Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese
86 points
A peachy nose with firm minerality. Sweetish palate. Lacks depth. Rather dull. Correct but dull.
White - Off-dry
2007 Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben-Thanisch) Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese
86 points
There's good minerality on the nose with a touch of sherbert and citrus. Well, on the palate, it's fine: well made, competent and clean. But it lacks interest.
Flight 17 - St. Urbans-Hof, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spätlese
86 points
Some white peaches overlain with a bit of sulphur. A solid, unexciting Spätlese.
White
2007 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett
87 points
Slightly muddied on the nose with a hint of sulphur, or rather of eggs. Clean and fresh on the palate, this is decent stuff with firm acidity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese
86 points
A clean, crisp nose with good fruit. Decent palate, though there feels to be a bit of a coarseness to it. Again, a solid, very drinkable Spätlese, but at the moment it's a bit unexciting.
White - Off-dry
2007 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Auslese
85 points
A touch murky on the nose, which has floral stone fruits. Decent palate. Good. Not exactly thrilling, but good.
White - Off-dry
2007 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Auslese
87 points
Good nose with some fresh peachy fruit. Good palate - there's a nice weight and ripeness, without it being especially sweet. Good balance.
Flight 18 - Wegeler, Mosel (4 notes)
White
2007 Wegeler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese trocken
89 points
Quite a steely, minerally nose. Very vibrant palate. Godo balance. Very nice, fresh, crisp and clean. Works well for me.
White
2007 Wegeler Riesling
89 points
Quite a pure nose - plenty of minerality and some rich fruit. Very good palate, with good rich riesling flavours. There's a touch of sweetness, but it feels very Kabinett like overall.
White - Off-dry
2007 Wegeler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
92 points
A very restrained nose - rather closed indeed. Very even palate. Quite a classy feel. Certainly some development to happen here before it reaches a worthwhile drinking window. 88/100 for now; potentially 92/100
White - Off-dry
2006 Wegeler Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel
92 points
Peach and slate on the nose. Rich but not oversweet on the palate. Very nice backbone. Peachy rounded flavours. Very pleasant.
Flight 19 - Dr. F. Weins-Prüm, Mosel (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett feinherb
89 points
There's nice minerality on the nose, which follows through on the palate. Good, with a nice balance and good depth.
White
2007 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
89 points
Nice nose - dry stone and slate minerality, together with very crisp green apples. Very nice palate. There's a pleasing ripeness and weight with some dpeth. Very good acidity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese
89 points
This has very fine, elegant minerality on the nose - a very poised nose. On the sweeter side of Spätlese perhaps, but it works well for me.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
91 points
Apples, lime and wet slate on the nose. Very elegant and poised on the palate. This is working very well for me now and it will definitely improve.
White - Off-dry
2006 Dr. F. Weins-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
82 points
A bit closed on the nose with a faint whiff of sulphur lingering. Hmmm ... this feels a bit out of sorts with itself and has some odd, extracted spirity pear flavours. I don't really like this.
Flight 20 - Zilliken, Saar (5 notes)
White
2007 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett
88 points
Lovely fresh nose. Very good palate. Fine restraint.
White - Off-dry
2007 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese
89 points
An elegant Spätlese nose. Nice palate - very even. Good acidity which is fairly well knitted already.
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Comment
White - Off-dry
2007 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
92 points
Very restrained nose. Good palate. Very fine acidity, which stops the deep richness from being cloying.
White - Off-dry
2007 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese Auction
96 points
The nose has crisp, lemony apple fruit and a nice subtle minerality. There is a lot of apple fruit on the palate too. This is really nice.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2003 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Auction
95 points
Very intense apricots and raisins on the nose. Amazing acidity, which cuts right through the concentration. Delicious and superb.
Flight 21 - Von Hövel, Saar (5 notes)
White
2007 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Monopollage Kabinett
92 points
Lovely fresh nose. Zingy, fresh, racy palate. Very nice. There's also a lovely austerity behind.
White - Off-dry
2007 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Spätlese
91 points
Very fresh nose with lemon zest and a nice minerality. Very good balance on the palate. Super acidity on the finish.
White - Off-dry
2007 Von Hövel Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese
88 points
Lemon zest and a touch of air freshener on the nose. Direct palate. It has a good feel in the mouth, though the directness has as its corollary a lack of complexity - certainly at the moment anyway.
White - Off-dry
2007 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Auslese
91 points
The nose has peach, citrus zest and talc. Nice palate: very balanced. It has good fruit, acidity and minerality, together with a very persistent length.
White - Off-dry
2007 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel **
94 points
From a half bottle.
Quite subdued on the nose. Very refined palate. You hardly feel the sweetness, such is the admirable restraint and acidity. Searing acidity after. Top stuff.
Quite subdued on the nose. Very refined palate. You hardly feel the sweetness, such is the admirable restraint and acidity. Searing acidity after. Top stuff.
Flight 22 - Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (5 notes)
White
2007 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Riesling RK
83 points
There are crisp, crunchy apples on the nose. But the palate is rather unfocussed. A bit odd and funky, and I don't think that just down to bottle/travel shock.
White
2007 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Scharzhofberger Kabinett
85 points
A very attractive nose with subtle citrus and apple fruit, alongside a gentle minerality. Very dry on the palate. It has a nice depth, but overall, I don't find it very satisfying.
White
2007 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Josephshöfer Riesling Kabinett
86 points
A gentle nose; a bit richer than the Scharzhofberger Kabinett, but generally pretty similar with citrus, apples and good minerality. Perhaps there is a bit more in the way of slatey wet stones on this wine. Fuller palate. Quite round and open. Feeling very young and rather unresolved on the finish.
White - Off-dry
2007 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese
90 points
This has more of a zesty, chalky feel on the nose, rather than slate. Lovely palate; very balanced. Working very well for me.
White - Off-dry
2006 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Josephshöfer Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel #6
88 points
There are slate and apricots on the nose. Good palate. Possibly a bit simple (at this early stage in its life anyway). A bit more acidity would probably help. Still, you wouldn't kick it out of the cellar if you woke up next to it.
Flight 23 - Egon Müller (5 notes)
White
2007 Egon Müller Riesling QbA Scharzhof
90 points
Very lemony, zesty nose. On the palate there's immediately a very searing acidity - it almost hurts! The opposite of so many Gutsrieslings. Super.
White
2007 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett
92 points
A charming nose - crisp green fruit and a subtle, but very definite minerality. Very clean, crisp palate. Beautiful austerity. Bloody good Kab.
White - Off-dry
2007 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese
92 points
Fresh apples and almost a hint of asparagus on the nose. Very fine palate. Fabulous restraint. Superb acidity, which still needs to integrate a bit further.
White - Off-dry
2007 Egon Müller/Le Gallais Wiltinger Braune Kupp Riesling Spätlese
91 points
Some lovely ripe apples on the nose. On the palate, it works very well. In the mouth the fruit doesn't feel especially ripe, which then combined with the huge acidity makes it feel very dry.
White - Off-dry
2007 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel
94 points
Very elegant peach and pear fruit nose. Lovely palate with real weight and richness, but also with a very big balancing acidity. Superb stuff. How good is this going to be with a few years age, when it's an easy 94/100 now?
Flight 24 - Weingut von Othegraven (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut von Othegraven Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spätlese
85 points
Dusty quarries in the nose. Quite a rich, sweet palate. It could do with a bit more finesse. Persistent length with lingering acidity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut von Othegraven Riesling feinherb
77 points
Very sulphury nose. Lacks character and interest. I don't like it at all.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut von Othegraven Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Spätlese
87 points
Sulphury lemon zest on the nose. Decent palate - much better than the nose. Quite fine and elegant.
White - Off-dry
2007 Weingut von Othegraven Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Auslese
88 points
Crisp lemony zesty nose with very good minerality. Rich and round on the palate, with searing acidity on the finish, which has yet to integrate properly. 86/100 now, potentially 88/100
White
2007 Weingut von Othegraven Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Kabinett
81 points
The heavy sulphur on the nose masks anything else that might be there. Austere, fairly bright, light palate. Little to recommend it.
Flight 25 - Schloss Saarstein (5 notes)
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Kabinett feinherb
89 points
10.5%
Lovely fresh nose. Very crisp palate. Lovely austerity.
Lovely fresh nose. Very crisp palate. Lovely austerity.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Saarstein Riesling feinherb
88 points
10.5%
Nice nose with minerals to the fore and some gassy mercaptans. Very, very crisp palate. Not at all bad.
Nice nose with minerals to the fore and some gassy mercaptans. Very, very crisp palate. Not at all bad.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Spätlese feinherb
92 points
Very crunchy apples on the nose. Lovely Spätlese richness feel, but dry. Very nicely balanced. Very long.
White
2007 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Kabinett
91 points
8.5%
Attractive nose with peachy apples and wet pebbles. Lovely palate. Nice elegance. A proper Kab.
Attractive nose with peachy apples and wet pebbles. Lovely palate. Nice elegance. A proper Kab.
White - Off-dry
2007 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Spätlese
91 points
Citrus and pears on the nose with a big overlaying minerality. Very good palate. Again excellent balance. Very correct and enjoyable.
Flight 26 - Van Volxem (5 notes)
White
2007 Van Volxem Wiltinger Braunfels Riesling
82 points
Intens, concentrated apple fruit and a fine hot stone minerality. Curious palate. This isn't really to my taste and has some savage notes. Feeling a bit ordinary.
White
2007 Van Volxem Saar Riesling
89 points
Peaches, apples, lemons dominate the nose. Very dry, but very fine. Works very well.
White
2007 Van Volxem Riesling Alte Reben
91 points
A rather slight nose. Concentrated fruit on the palate. This has huge depth and power and complexity, to the point that I wonder just whether you can really call it a Mosel riesling.
White
2007 Van Volxem Scharzhofberger Riesling Großes Gewächs
92 points
Tank sample.
There's a bit of lemon and minerality on the nose. Full-ish round palate. Clean, long and very interesting.
There's a bit of lemon and minerality on the nose. Full-ish round palate. Clean, long and very interesting.
White
2007 Van Volxem Riesling Rotschiefer Kabinett
90 points
A pleasant, zesty, fresh nose. This is a nice, classic Kab that works really well. Very integrated and together.
Flight 27 - Dr. Wagner (5 notes)
White
2007 Dr. Heinz Wagner Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett trocken
87 points
A slight nose. Very dry palate. Very lean indeed, but, while there's some powerful acidity on the finish, some riesling character shows through and persists in the mouth.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. Heinz Wagner Saarburger Kupp Riesling Kabinett feinherb
89 points
Quite an attractive lemony nose. Good palate. A distinct improvement on the Rausch Kab trocken. There's still a fine acidity, but it feels more like the acidity is holding it together.
White
2007 Dr. Heinz Wagner Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett
89 points
Nice slatey minerality with a touch of apples on the nose. This is a nice ripe Kabinett with racy acidity on the finish. Works well.
White - Off-dry
2007 Dr. Heinz Wagner Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese
91 points
There's austere riesling fruit on the nose, with some soft minerality. Very good palate. Just the right balance. A very correct Spätlese that's very pleasing.
White - Off-dry
2003 Dr. Heinz Wagner Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Auslese
88 points
A bit of a muddy nose. Very clean, pure palate. It works well, but isn't really thrilling me.
Flight 28 - Karthäuserhof (5 notes)
White
2007 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett trocken
86 points
There's quite a ripe feel to the nose with some peachy fruit. Bone dry on the palate, almost aggressively so, but it resolves itself remarkably well.
White - Off-dry
2007 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett feinherb
84 points
Clean, crisp, gently appley nose. Deep palate. Fair balance. Falls apart a bit on the finish.
White
2007 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett
89 points
A slightish nose with a hint of apples. Good palate with a bit of interest there.
White - Off-dry
2007 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese
89 points
Very slight nose. Lighter than a lot of the other 2008 Spätlesen tasted today. Fresh and crisp palate with just enough Spätlese weight.
White - Off-dry
2007 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Auslese
89 points
There's a nice lemon minerality on the nose. Good palate initially, but it feels a bit unbalanced on the middle. Still better than many, though.