𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 1983

In perfect shape, this Riesling blew my mind. It was alive, mature but still very young with lots of freshness.

The aromas were very expressive and ripe, offering notes of preserved lemon, ripe peach, syruped kumquat, wax, wet stones, old eraser and mild smoke (like the oldschool cap guns with smoke - a little matchstick-like). No extreme petrol.

On the palate, it was medium-bodied, off-dry, highly acidic but very rounded on the edges. Lemon wine gum, lemon zest, a hint of honeycomb (but not sweet), tangerine, ginger sweets and salt in the finish.

Such a pure wine! In love with these +30 years old Rieslings, where the marriage between sweetness and acidity is reaches a unique level.

• “Kabinett” is one of six designated German wine classifications and indicates the lightest style of German wines. The grapes are picked at normal harvest, typically in September when they have ripened, and shows an off-dry style, unless “Trocken” (dry) is mentioned on the label as well, which indicates a longer fermentation leading to less residual sugar content (a drier wine) and a bit higher alcohol.

Behind this label is a story of the great Staatsweingute (state wineries) of Germany, which are owned by the state and works like umbrella wineries, where smaller wineries finished their vinification. This label refers to the old state winery Niederhausen-Schlossböckelheim, founded in 1901, but by the A.P. Nr. on the label (1 750 053/10/84), the 750 refers to the bottler/the specific winemaker, which is Gut Hermannsberg.

Since 2010, the winery has worked under the official name of Gut Hermannsberg. They are also founding members of VDP.

 ⭐️93+/100⭐️ 𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 1983

𝑬𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒃 “𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆” 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒏, 2018

📍Traben-Trarbach, Mosel, Germany🇩🇪

The wine was decanted a few hours before first test.

Very dark and golden color - probably from the late harvested grapes and the tiny maceration.

The aromas are powerful and delicate, offering ripe pear, lemon peel, beeswax, baked lemon, mild petrol, old eraser, dark honey, lemon wine gum, wet and smoky stones and lees.

On the palate, the wine is rich and creamy (not heavy) with a sick acidity to balance the body. Ripe pomelo, nectarine, lemon peel, a mild green bitterness, lemon verbena, honey (without being sweet) and white wine gum. Very fine minerality, lots of salt and a hint of salmiak in the finish.

• Hand-harvested from the famous and steep Enkircher Ellergrub vineyard

• Naturally fermented in 8-year-old barrique

This is the first Ellergrub “Reserve” wine from Weiser-Künstler, and probably the last for a long time, since it was kind of a (happy) accident. In the very hot vintage of 2018, Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler were waiting and waiting for the humidity causing the botrytis - but it never came. The vines were actually ment to be used for an Ellergrub Auslese, but instead, the overripe and very sweet grapes (still in perfect condition) resulted in a dry Riesling Reserve with high alcohol for its kind.

Konstantin and Alexandra started the winery in 2005, and quickly they were on the lips of the biggest international wine personalities. They farm a little morethan 4 ha of Riesling, all biodynamic and with a low amount of sulfur.

 ⭐️91/100⭐️ 𝑬𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒃 “𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆” 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒏, 2018

2015 Clemens Busch - Riesling Vom Grauen Schiefer (86 pts)

ℹ️ Clemens Busch is based in the Mosel. The majority of his vines are grown on a hillside called Marienburg facing the town of Pünderich. He makes two Cuvees from this site that highlight they grey slate (vom grauen Schiefer) and red slate (vom roten Schiefer). Bottle capsule color (red, grey, blue) dictates the soil type. Terroir focused to say the least with minimal intervention. They practice Biodynamic farming·

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of wet rock, flint, steelie, yellow apple, Meyer lemon, lemon zest, acacia, and quince·

👄 The wine is dry, high enamel destroying acidity, medium- alcohol, and light body. Medium+ intensity on the palate. This is tart, very tart! The palate is lemon zest, raw quince, and yellow apple skins. There is chalky texture and then an extremely mineral wet rock and slate note that dominates the medium length finish. ·

🔔 This wine is clearly not for everyone due to the ripping acidity. I probably like rocks and acid more than the average drinker. 2015 is a ripe year, but there is no suppleness here. This is straight up citrus zesters and laser beams ☄️. Served too cold and the acidity is austere, but a tad warmer than cellar temp and it eases off a bit. Time should help mellow it·

 2015 Clemens Busch - Riesling Vom Grauen Schiefer (86 pts)

2012 Weingut Schätzel - NackenHeim Silvaner Rheinhessen (88 pts)

ℹ️ Silvaner was once the most planted grape in Germany, post-WWII to the 70s, due to high yields that made it ideal for making Liebfraumilch. I will be the first to admit that I do not drink enough Silvaner. (Oh yeah the spelling ➡️ using the "I" over the "Y" because that is the way the Germans roll.) Rarely do I get a chance to try this varietal from a quality producer with a few years of age on them like this 2012. Silvaner is a rather neutral (bland) grape that can have high yeilds. However, in the right hands this lack of flavor can be leveraged to truly reflect the Terroir of the vineyard·

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of flint, wet rock, pickled lemon, grapefruit pith, lanolin, arugula, and a little funk that I can't quite place·

👅 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium- alcohol, and medium+ body. There is a definite weightiness to the wine that is almost oily in texture. Lemon, lemon zest, grapefruit pith, underripe apricot, wet rock, and something like asparagus or arugula as well. The medium+ length finish has a touch of waxy flavor that ends on a bitter note like some Gruner Veltliners·

🔔 Not exactly sure how to process this wine, as blind I would have been dumbfounded. It is really solid and super expressive and rich for a Silvaner. This wine craves food with it and I am not doing it justice. The zest, pith, and bitter finish need that counter point. Overall super interesting!👍·

 2012 Weingut Schätzel - NackenHeim Silvaner Rheinhessen (88

1971 Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Trier - Serriger Heiligenborn Riesling Spätlese (90 pts)

❓What was the last wine you tasted that was over the hill❓·

ℹ️ Tasted blind at a German winetasting. 1971 is a legendary vintage and many of the wines I have tasted from that vintage have blown me away. This wine was clearly past it's prime, but was still charming. A few months back I tasted a different vineyard from the same producer. It was a 1975 and Auslese·

👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of mushroom, leather, all spice, clove, dried apple, and persimmon·

👄 The wine is medium-dry, high acidity, low alcohol, and medium- body. When you taste it you realize that the sugar flavors have morphed into something totally different. Tasting formerly sweet wines is quite interesting. A lot of spice on this wine that came to life with food. Medium- length finish·

🔔 I am sure that 5-10 years ago this was excellent. While interesting and complex, this would not be everyone's cup of tea. I think if this wine was an Auslese or higher this may have faired better·

 1971 Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Trier - Serriger Heiligenborn

1996 Dr. Loosen - Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese (89 pts)

- Medium gold color with noticeable tartrates deposits (see cork image). Pronounced intensity on the nose. A lot of Petrol and Kerosene, then followed by Flint and a steeliness aroma. After all of that there is a medley of fruit: nectarine, apricot, orange marmalade, lime, quince and finally ginger. The wine is medium-sized, high acidity, low alcohol, and medium body. The palate is less complex compared to the nose ripe apricot, ripe peach, candied lime, orange peel, and canned nectarines. There is a slight mineral flinty note and spicy ginger flavor on the medium length finish. This wine tastes so much younger than it smells. The acidity is ripping on the wine. The fruit is still going strong and has many years ahead of it. While this is delicious, given its 21 years old I was really looking for development on the palate.

 1996 Dr. Loosen - Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese (89

2009 Becker-Landgraf - Gau-Odernheimer Weissburgunder Trocken Rheinhessen (90 pts)

- Pale gold with a watery rim, showing a touch of age. Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of yellow apple, bruised apple, cantaloupe, melon, asian pear, and floral notes that remind me of a bar of soap. The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, and full body. Palate is showing flavors of yellow apple, quince, pear, cantaloupe and melon. The medium length finish again show cases the floral notes of iris and lily. The wine is quite balanced, good acidity against the full body. Interesting to see an 8 yr old pinot blanc on the market for $20 and really show casing what the varietal can do.

 2009 Becker-Landgraf - Gau-Odernheimer Weissburgunder

1975 Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Trier - Serriger Vogelsang Riesling Auslese Mosel (96 pts)

❓What is the oldest Riesling you have tasted? And did you like it?

ℹ️ The 1970s had a few great vintages. Most people talk about the great 1971 and 1976 vintages known for power and botrytis. 1975 was also a very good vintage with a lot of balance and structure. This wine is from a State Owned Enterprise in the Mosel Valley. This still exists today and owns about 30 hectares of vines. In 2011 they opened a state of the art facility with a commission for research and development of natural wine growing techniques·

👃 Pronounced intensity on the nose. Aromas of Peach skin, stewed peach, apricots, orange blossoms, red apple skin, ginger, and persimmon·

👄 The wine is medium-dry (possibly sweeter), high acidity, low alcohol, and medium body. Very intense on the palate as well. Peach skin, baked peach, persimmon, dried apricot, orange blossom, and chrysanthemum tea. The finish was long and elegant with a slight herbal almost minty note at the end ·

🔔 Freaking Amazing 🙌 these wines age forever. This was from my private cellar and purchased on auction with reputable provenance. Corks of this age are a pain, but that's why I own the Durand. Older wine is my true passion and I was happy to share this bottle to celebrate something with a friend. Oh and did I mention it was Amazing 🙌·

 1975 Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Trier - Serriger Vogelsang

2015 Muller-Catoir - Haardt Scheurebe (88 pts)

- Pale Lemon color. Medium+ intensity on the nose. Initial aromas of matchstick, Flint, and kerosene. Followed by nectarine, papaya, gooseberry, and lime zest. The wine is dry, not to be fooled by the ripe sweet fruit flavors, medium acidity, medium- alcohol, and medium body. The palate starts with a tingle on the 👅. A lot more citrus and mineral on the palate. Grapefruit, lime zest, gooseberry, steely, and flint.  Ends with a medium length finish where the papaya and nectarine flavors linger. Overall this is quite airy and elegant. A lot of Scheurebe can be clunky, but this is quite refined. I am predisposed to think of most German white wines to have high acidity, however this wine is broad and generous without being flabby. A really good food wine. Love the nose!

 2015 Muller-Catoir - Haardt Scheurebe (88 pts) #winereview

2015 Dr Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riseling Kabinett (90 pts)

eckout the episode for the full review https://youtu.be/AgSnoKjDVM0 #wine

 2015 Dr Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riseling Kabinett (90

2015 Peter Lauer - Fass 6 Senior Riesling Saar (88 pts)

- Pale lemon color. Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of nectarine, underripe peach, orange blossoms, grapefruit pith, meyer lemon, flint, and a slight cardamom spice. The wine is off-dry, at first it seemed dried due to acidity. Acidity is high, alcohol is low, and medium- body. The acidity is like a laser on the palate. White peach, apricot, nectarine, sweet meyer lemon, and orange peel. The finish is medium length but finishes with nectarine and mineral flinty notes. Everything I want in a German Riesling. It dances around the hint of sweetness with depth of fruit and striking acidity. Great vintage, great producer, and most importantly a great glass of wine.

 2015 Peter Lauer - Fass 6 Senior Riesling Saar (88 pts)

2002 Donnhoff - Niederhauser Hermannshohle Spatlese (93 pts)

- Pale gold color. Pronounced intensity on the nose. Notes of petrol, wet stone, apricot, canned nectarine, melon, bruised apple, pear, and orange blossom.  The wine is medium-sweet, high acidity, low alcohol, and medium body. Ripe stone fruit (apricot and nectarine) and bruised/stewed green fruit (pear, yellow apple, and quince). Tasting minerality (wet stone) and floral (orange blossom and chamomile) on the finish. Also there is a high end honey note on the finish too. Finish is long and complex (90 sec+). This wine dances the line of being too sweet but the acidity really balances it out. Developing aromas are wonderful and this will keep getting better with age, but drinks beautifully now. Donnhoff is a master of this tightrope walk.

 2002 Donnhoff - Niederhauser Hermannshohle Spatlese (93

2015 Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz - Pinot Blanc Dry Pfalz (87 pts)

ℹ️ Biodynamic producer located in the south of the Pfalz appellation of Germany. Where they have 22 hectares of vines planted and all farmed Bio-dynamically 👏. One of the movers and shakers in the VDP, owner and winemaker Hansjörd Rebholz has been president of the Pfalz VDP association since 1999. The estate's production of 10K cases are 99% dry wines. They also have an interesting and diverse mix of grape varietals planted with only 40% dedicated to Riesling. Pinot Blanc aka Weissburgunder makes up 15% of plantings·

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of lime blossom, acacia, Meyer lemon, key lime, custard, and wet stone·

👅 The wine is dry. Medium+ acidity and a noticeable pin prick on the tongue as you first taste it. Medium alcohol. Medium- body. The palate is more mineral than the nose. Flavors of wet stone, steeliness, lime zest, lemon zest, and key lime. The finish is medium length and quite floral with lime blossom lingering on·

🔔 Really beautiful example of Pinot Blanc. I respect the effort put into this entry level wine and 🍇 varietal. For the retail price of $20 this really delivers a lot flavor and complexity especially when compared to mass market Pinot Grigios at the same price point. Kudos to Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz for having such a diverse line up and making them all have a unique voice

 2015 Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz - Pinot Blanc Dry Pfalz

1976 Staatl Weinbaudomänen Niederhaus-Schlossböckelheim - Binger Scharlachberg Riesling Beerenauslese (94 pts)

 -No one makes a wine label or a really long word like the Germans!

Medium Tawny color. Pronounced nose that jumped out of the glass like only aged German Riesling can. Dried apricot, sultana, dried apples, candied ginger, candied pineapple, petrol, and noticeable botrytis aromas. This wine was lusciously sweet, but the acidity tamed it. This wine was a joy to drink. It stole the night for many with a lot of highly acclaimed bottles being tasted. The wine was sweet, complex, and almost elegant. What a great vintage for German Riesling! This seems like a state producer, doubt they even exist today.

 1976 Staatl Weinbaudomänen Niederhaus-Schlossböckelheim -

Riesling Spätlese “Herxheimer Himmelreich”, 2011

12th generation of Petri winemakers are running this old winery located in the village of Herxheim am Berg in one of the 13 Anbaugebiete (wine growing regions) of Germany called Pfalz (the Palatine region), where they cultivate 21 hectares of vines. The business is dating back to 1655, when the Petris arrived from Tyrol working as barrel makers before starting the winemaking.

Ever since, the focus has been on environment-friendly cultivation with no chemicals in the vineyards and only harvest by hand to secure the health and natural development of their agricultural areas.

The wine undergo slow fermentation on steel to preserve the Riesling’s precious characteristics before maturation in big 80 years old wooden barrels of 3000 liters to gain some more complexity and balance the structure.

This wine’s aromas are what Riesling dreams are made of.

It brings notes of ripe pear and candied ginger followed by white fresh mushrooms, nice hints of old eraser or tennis balls and melted plastic, acacia honey and lemon peel and some nice petrol starting to show muscles without taking over yet.

The palate is oily, off-dry and fresh offering lovely notes of peach, dried apricot, lemon peel and mild honey. The balance between the sweetness and the acidity is just lovely.

I’ve been working with these wines for some years having tried most of their portfolio from different vintages. They all show fine quality, but this exact one (with this age) is the best experience I’ve had from Petri. For the price, their wines are really nice, btw.

If you’re ever searching for these wines, the labels have changed quite a lot, but the (aged) content doesn’t disappoint.

 ⭐️87/100⭐️ Weingut Petri Riesling Spätlese “Herxheimer

Erdener Bußlay is the third vineyard connected to the village of Erden in the central part of Mosel.

Located on the same side of the Mosel River ad Erden, it’s facing the more famous Erdener Treppchen and Erdener Prälat.

Compared to Treppchen, Bußlay often deliver more fullbodied and less elegant Rieslings. Yet, they are very long living and have huge aging potential offering more structured and heavy wines.

Perfect color for a vintage white👌🏼

The nose is heavy and complex with exotic fruits like mango, canned pineapple, honeydew melon and peach. Flowers, beeswax and tertiary notes of old eraser and a touch of gasoline bring a classic vintage-Mosel style to the aroma.

The palate is round and soft (not much acidity left) with great depth. Fresh mango, papya, candied yellow/white fruits, ginger and honeycomb in a lovely relationship - and an endless finish of lemoncurd.

This winery keeps delivering high class with their matured vintages.

 ⭐️88/100⭐️ Weingut Bernhard Jakoby Erdener Bußlay Riesling

“Erdener Treppchen” Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, 1985

The vineyard of Erdener Treppchen (Mittelmosel) is extremely steep (stone steps are built into the hillside to make it easier for the workers to get around). The soil is based on red slate and is very iron-infused, which together makes Rieslings that are more powerful, muscular and complex with a high minerality.

It’s not famous for producing very elegant wines, but instead you get a masculine hard-body rock climber.

It appears very clear in the glass with a yellow/pale green color.

The aromas are powerful and complex - just crazy!  It smells like entering a bicycle mechanic (burned tires, petrol and iron) followed by hints of slate, lemon zest, green melon, honey and ginger.

The palate is very exciting, but unfortunately the acidity hits like a hammer. It’s like pressing a lemon directly into your mouth - it’s way to much (which is way different from the other Jakoby vintage Rieslings I’ve tried).

If you try ignoring the acidity, there are beautiful mineral notes behind the lemon, and sour apple, lemon zest and nectarine.

This is a very special experience - mostly fun for advanced wine nerds, I think.

(I’m still impressed by the acidic level...).

 Weingut Bernhard Jakoby “Erdener Treppchen” Riesling

Close to the town of Assmannshausen in Rheingau, Jens Heinemeyer is producing several Pinot Noir wines in the most beautiful landscape of super steep vineyards (especially this one: steep = “steil” in German) adjacent to the Rhine River.

All vineyards located around Assmannshausen are covered by red slate stone soil, which are perfect in the relatively cold climate, due to red slate’s ability to withstand temperature changes. The temperature stability makes sure the slate doesn’t get too cold over night, nor too warm during the day.

Perfect conditions for a cool climate Pinot Noir.

All Heinemeyer’s vineyards are cultivated by certified organic farming.

The wine “Steil” is a single vineyard selection from old vines  ranging between 15 and 48 years.

The name also describes the nature of Solveigs vineyards which are all steep slopes up to 70°.

The wine ferments naturally and ages 24 months in barrique before unfiltered bottling, and then rests another 24 months in before leaving the cellar.

At the end, around 2000 bottles are made.

Powerful yet elegant bouquet harmoniously offering ripe, dark cherry and cranberry mixed with pepper, leather, fresh mild tobacco then finishing with an earthy and herbal touch. There’s a discreet perfumed scent of fried roses and stable too.

The palate is smooth with a fine acidity to match the dark (candied) cherries and ripe raspberries. Warm spices follow with a delicate, mineral touch from the slate.  Overall a fantastic and complex PN - stylistically a bit in between the “classic” German Spätburgunder and the Bourgogne PN.

 ⭐️88/100⭐️ Solveigs Steil, 2013 📍Rheingau, Germany🇩🇪 🍇100%

Riesling “Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz” Trocken, 2018

“Erste Lage” (german for first-class site)

Almost water-like colour and a little prickling on the tongue.

This is for those who like non-fruity rieslings but prefer a clean mineral style with notes of flint, chalk, lemon and a tiny bit of honey flower.

It’s very dry and has a powerful acidity - It’s also a little salty, which I find quite sexy... It lacks a bit of complexity and length, but it’s for sure an exciting wine though.

 Weingut Leitz Riesling “Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz”

Almost dead, unfortunately. Extremely earthy, but it might do alright with a risotto or pasta with mushrooms.

Wow..! This is incredible. Open it half an hour before serving, and serve it chilled - not cold. Caramel, browned butter, prune, leather and cinnamon.

Grand old Grauburgunder in an Auslese version.

A funky fella... Exotic fruit (mango, banana, litchi and pineapple) combined with a serious touch of oak.

 Henninger - Pfalz / Rheinpfalz, Germany🇩🇪 Tasted: Summer

Stefan Bietighöfer. A man in his prime - a hot shot in Germany, and soon to be seen everywhere. A biodynamic winemaker from the southern part of Pfalz, Billigheim-Ingenheim to be precise. Stefan is a free spirit and not afraid of experimenting with his wines, which are often funky and edgy with a laissez-faire attitude to the common German winemaking.

Still, his wines are fantastic, exciting and different. No wonder, his name is on the lips of most German top sommeliers at the moment.

Rosé Reserve is made with French techniques matured in barriques to bring some creaminess and structure. The varieties are the classic Spätburgunder and the quite unusual Pinotage.  Aromas are opened from the beginning bringing fresh raspberry, grapefruit and mirabelle. Light spices, raw liquorice, light oak and “Haribo Mix” follow with a mineral finish.

The palate is light with a high but somehow creamy acidity.

Cranberry, raspberry and peach with green bitterness to bring some kind of match to the fruit.

 ⭐️84/100⭐️ Stefan Bietighöfer Rosé Reserve Trocken, 2018

“Heppenheimer Centgericht” Riesling Kabinett Trocken, 1979

This label refers to the old state winery (Staatsweingut) of Kloster Eberbach from the federal state of Hesse (which includes the region of Rheingau and some other well known wine regions).

On the label you find the A.P. Number (Amtliche Prüfungsnummer) which gives information about the bottler/winery etc.

- 50010: Identification nr. (indicates producer and belonging)

- 80: Year of testing (all QmP-wines must undergo a control-test to make sure, the quality is high enough for the QmP-classification).

“Kabinett” is one of six designated German wine classifications and indicates the lightest style of German wines. The grapes are picked at normal harvest, typically in September when they have ripened, and shows an off-dry style, unless “Trocken” (dry) is mentioned on the label as well, which indicates a longer fermentation leading to less residual sugar content (a drier wine) and a bit higher alcohol. Combined with Rieslings high acidity, this marriage between a touch of sweetness and acidity is simply unique and elegant, and develops beautifully over long periods of time.

Do I have to mention the look from the color? Not really - perfect after more than 41 years.

The aromas started out with way too many scents of wet newspaper and damp basement. But checking on it after an hour in the decanter, it was all replaced by lovely aromas of canned peach, preserved lemon, kumquat, beeswax, slightly smoked (maybe some mild petrol) and just a hint of oxidation. Very elegant, but less petrol than expected.

The palate is round and soft with more than enough acidity preserved - peach, apricot, mango, acacia honey, dried ginger and some sweet spices.

 ⭐️86/100⭐️ Kloster Eberbach “Heppenheimer Centgericht”

Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese, 2004

📍Piesport, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany🇩🇪

Hain is a traditionel producer in the very center of the steep, hilly Mosel. Vineyards have been cultivated by the family since the 17th century, and for many years with organic, low human intervention to secure a healthy environment for the old vines.

Goldtröpfchen (“golden droplets”) is a wide amphitheater-like vineyard faced south and exposed to sun during the whole day - perfect for ripening the Rieslings.

The grapes from the top to the mid of the vineyard is mainly used for Kabinett, and from the mid to the bottom the grapes are used for Spätlese or sweeter wines due to the easier ripening (because of the combination of sun exposure and sun mirroring from the river).

After a slow cool fermentation in steel tanks, the wine matures in big, very old, wooden casks.

Delicious and doing its job very well without being exceptional.

The aromas bring a mixture of all the classics: peach, lemon peel, dried ginger, lemon curd, honey and wet and smoky stones. Only a tiny hint of petrol.

The palate is round and soft with just enough acidity left to balance the sweetness. Elderflower syrup, lemonade, mirabelle plum, canned pineapple, honey and soft minerality.

 ⭐️88/100⭐️ Weingut Kurt Hain Piesporter Goldtröpfchen

Super aromatic with a lovely scent of pineapple, papaya, red apple and honey.

It’s extremely crispy and has a long finish.

For the price, this is actually quite a complex wine, but mostly in a fruity way (with a tiny hint of minerality and terroir). Prinz V Hessen is a first class Riesling producer, and even their entry level Rieslings (like this one) show world class.

- Almost 70% of their wines are classified Erste Lage or GG.

 Prinz von Hessen Riesling Trocken, 2017 - Rheingau

“Dorsheimer Goldloch” Riesling Spätlese Halbtrocken, 1988

I don’t know much about this winery. But I know one thing: Old Riesling is the bomb.

of old Riesling, I’ve mostly tried sweet ones, but this was way different.

Quite dry with a hint of honey and flowers. But most of all loaded with citrus and flint. It was so pure and elegant - and extremely rich in flavor.

Would never have guessed it to be 31 years old... The price tag might be a little too much (later, I bought three other old G. Hermannsberg Rieslings for a way lower price - which I haven’t opened yet), but I would definitely pay the same again for this experience.

But it’s not an everyday wine (to me 🙃).

 Gut Hermannsberg “Dorsheimer Goldloch” Riesling Spätlese

Phyllit Pinot Noir, 2014 📍Geisenheim, Rheingau, Germany🇩🇪

Phyllit is Solveigs entry level wine, named after the soil of the area - red phyllite (red slate). This vintage is another case, though.

2014 was a hard and struggling vintage in Rheingau with lots of rain and a cool summer, which is why the team chose to declassify their high-end-vineyard grapes from Steil, Micke and Present into their Phyllit. That brings some very unique and extra expressive terroir notes to the wine.  The nose is light with concentrated wild berries and cherry, medical herbs followed by  oak and some mineral and undergrowth notes.

It’s got a medium body with light tannins and a great acidity. Fresh berries are recurring on the tongue with a hint of tobacco and once again the minerality. All in fine balance. Think of a classic terroir-Spätburgunder but add the “natural wine touch” to complete the experience.

Produced after organic principles and gets as close as natural as you can possibly get.

 ⭐️87/100⭐️ Solveigs Phyllit Pinot Noir, 2014 📍Geisenheim

“Rauenthaler Baiken” Riesling Kabinett Trocken, 1989

From one of the more celebrated vineyards of Rauenthal, Rauenthaler Baiken (just north from the village of Eltville), Kloster Eberbach has produced wine for many years.

Today, the vineyard is classed as one of the most valuable agricultural lands of Germany - even above the most famous plots of Forst (Pfalz). In the opinion of many experts, this is Germany’s best vineyard.

It took me a while to find out, what winery was behind this bottle...

This type of label apparently refers to the old state wineries (Staatsweingut) from the federal state of Hesse (which includes the region of Rheingau and some other well known wine regions).

In the end of the 20th century, some of the wineries were sold/delegated as private wineries and cellars.

On the label you find the A.P. Number (Amtliche Prüfungsnummer) which gives information of the bottler/winery etc.

- 33050: identification number, bottler’s location/winery, Kloster Eberbach, Eltville (Rheingau)

- 90: Year of testing. All QmP-wines must undergo a control-test to make sure, the quality is high enough for the QmP-classification.

The palate surprised me a lot. Never have I experienced such elegance and balance from an old white.

Extraordinary aromas og lemon zest and petrol. Petrol in the way, that makes people fall in love with this special scent (instead of scaring away people). Clear mineral notes of phyllite (foliated metamorphic slate) and dry gravel.

The palate brings a silky soft, almost full-bodied, Riesling that doesn’t lack of either fruit (fresh lemon juice, pomelo and lemon zest), honey-sweetness or acidity.

The minerality and purity is overwhelmingly beautiful.

 ⭐️94/100⭐️ Kloster Eberbach “Rauenthaler Baiken” Riesling

𝑹𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒑𝒂̈𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒆 “𝑳𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒖̈𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈”, 1999

📍Lieser, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany🇩🇪

The estate is located in Lieser, just a couple miles from Bernkastel, Mosel, where it’s been in function since 1648.

They rule a total of 7 he of vineyards, including top sites in Brauneberg and Lieser. The area is mainly planted to Riesling (75%), and the rest is Pinot varieties (Blanc and Noir) and Rivaner. Since 2001, Jörg Thanisch has run the business.

Classic and conventional methods are used for winemaking: Fermented with native yeasts (in steel tanks) to express the vineyard as close as possible. Afterwards, the wine is matured almost a year in big, old barrels on the lees. The wine is filtered before bottling.

Lovely fruity aromas of ripe mango, lime peel, elderflower and lemon curd, followed by “matured Riesling notes” of mild petrol, eraser, warm plastic, beeswax and wet stones.

The palate was impressively youthful; lean, fruity and semi-sweet with an acidic kick, offering ripe pear, canned peaches, pomelo, Mirabelle plum, a hint of butterscotch and honey, finishing with a delicate, mineral touch.

Not the most complex matured Riesling I’ve had, but for sure a lovely glass that I’d love to taste again.