Wine from Germany

Bastgen Berncastel-Cueser Weisenstein Riesling Spatlese Trocken is made from 100 percent Riesling.

Bright, clean, fresh and zesty. Grapefruit like flavors. Fruity aromas and a nice minerality, typical of the Riesling grape grown on blue slate soil. Round, rich and a very long finish. The grapes for this wine are vigorously selected. Botrytis is not tolerated. At harvest the grapes are fully ripened, have a golden color, and a soft tartness. After a long spontaneous fermentation in a traditional 1000L barrel, the wine just reaches the dry stage. This gives the wine a creamy structure that interplays with ripe yellow and exotic fruit aromas.

They meticulously tend 4.5 ha (11.11 acres) of which 80% is Riesling. The soil is made of slate. Their vineyards are located in Kesten and Brauneberg, on a steep terrace, and planted to 50-year old vines. Fortunately for Bastgen, they own part of the famous Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr. The vines produce very small, ripe berries that are very tasty.

Bastgen Blauschiefer Riesling is 100 percent Riesling.

Bright, clean, fresh and zesty. Grapefruit like flavors. Fruity aromas and a nice minerality, typical of the Riesling grape grown on blue slate soil. Round, rich and a very long finish.

They meticulously tend 4.5 ha (11.11 acres) of which 80% is Riesling. The soil is made of slate. Their vineyards are located in Kesten and Brauneberg, on a steep terrace, and planted to 50-year old vines. Fortunately for Bastgen, they own part of the famous Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr. The vines produce very small, ripe berries that are very tasty.

Bastgen Kestener Paulinshofberg Riesling Kabinett is 100 percent Riesling.

Yellow color with green highlights.
Beautiful peach aromas on the nose, rich and ripe fruits on the mouth with a refreshing acidity and honey notes. A very pleasing wine.

They meticulously tend 4.5 ha (11.11 acres) of which 80% is Riesling. The soil is made of slate. Their vineyards are located in Kesten and Brauneberg, on a steep terrace, and planted to 50-year old vines. Fortunately for Bastgen, they own part of the famous Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr. The vines produce very small, ripe berries that are very tasty.

Bastgen Kestener Paulinshofberg Riesling Spatlese is 100 percent Riesling. 

Yellow color with green highlights.
Beautiful peach aromas on the nose, rich and ripe fruits on the mouth with a refreshing acidity and honey notes. A very pleasing wine.

They meticulously tend 4.5 ha (11.11 acres) of which 80% is Riesling. The soil is made of slate. Their vineyards are located in Kesten and Brauneberg, on a steep terrace, and planted to 50-year old vines. Fortunately for Bastgen, they own part of the famous Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr. The vines produce very small, ripe berries that are very tasty.

Review:

- Wine Enthusiast (April 2021), 93 pts

A late harvest Riesling with fruity sweetness and great aging potential, aromatic bouquet of honey, melon, ripe fruits. Grapes come from Brauneberger Juffer and Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.

Pairs well with pâté, Asian cuisine.

Review:

"Possessing a richer, off-dry style, yet still clean and balanced, the 2015 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese offers terrific notes of crushed rocks, dried herbs, and sugared citrus to go with a medium to full-bodied, textured, layered style on the palate that makes it incredibly drinkable. As with the other Riesling from this estate, it’s impeccably made and is going to shine on the dinner table."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 91 pts

Delicious Riesling, exotic and mineral, concentrated aromas and flavors of pear, pineapple and honey.
Grapes come from Brauneberger Juffer and Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.

The grapes were planted in 1990.
Aging for 6 months in large oak barrels.
Filtration.

Pairs well with dessert and cheese.

Review:

"The 2015 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese boasts a big, sweet, full-bodied style that nevertheless stays clean and nicely balanced. Showing lots of sugared citrus, quince, mint, and hints of diesel fumes, it shines for this mid-palate depth, has terrific balance between its acidity and sugar, and offers a great finish. This cuvée comes from vines planted in 1990 and was brought up all in large oak barrels."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 92 pts

Dr. Leimbrock Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 1995 (half-bottle) is made from 100 percent Riesling.

Grapes come from Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.

delicious with exotic and candied fruit, flavors of date, honey and caramel, full-bodied Auslese with very concentrated aromas of apricot and dried fruits. With the ageing process, the dried fruit aroma is even more exuberant and charming.

Dr. Leimbrock Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is made from 100% Riesling

Aged 6 months in classic large oak barrel.

Grapes come from Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.

delicious with exotic and candied fruit, flavors of date, honey and caramel, full-bodied Auslese with very concentrated aromas of apricot and dried fruits.

Vines were planted in 1990.
Wine was slightly filtered before bottling

Pair with dessert, cheese or dried fruits.

Dr. Leimbrock Estate Riesling is made from 100 percent Riesling.

Typical Riesling, fresh and fruity, easy drinking. Grapes come from Brauneberger Juffer and Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.

Pairs well with barbecue meats, pasta dishes.

Dr. Leimbrock Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese Feinherb is made from 100 percent Riesling 

Aged in large oak barrels for 6 months

The Graacher Himmelreich vineyard has an excellent southwestern exposure. The cultivation of the vine is done by the classic single pile education.

Harmonious and fruity with aromas of exotic fruit, peach and green apple, candied fruits and hints of honey. Delicate, juicy with well integrated acidity, full-bodied and an attractive finish.

Classic large oak barrel, cultured yeast.

Pairs well with Asian cuisine, Mediterranean vegetables with raw ham, spicy dishes.

Review:

- Wine Enthusiast (April 2021), 91 pts

Gessinger Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett is 100 percent Riesling. 

The Zeltinger Schlossberg region is known for its fine weathering Devonian slate and extreme steep slopes. The wine offers a pure and bright bouquet of apricot, peach, litchi, ripe fruit aromas. Elegance and complexity on the palate, long flavors, well-balanced, rich and mineral.
A long and persistent finish.

Weingut Gessinger joined the Bernkastel Ring in 1899 and for years their wines only appeared at their September auction. Gessinger is quite small, less than 2,000 cases and all his whites are 100% Riesling planted on Devon Slate (best soil type of the area).

Gessinger Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is a big and rich wine with ripe peach and pear on the nose, honeyed, citrus and mineral aromas. Clean and pure, distinctive character. Very long finish

All vineyards are located in the middle Mosel town of Zelting. Weingut Gessinger joined the Bernkastel Ring in 1899 and for years their wines only appeared at their September auction. Gessinger is quite small, less than 2,000 cases and all his whites are 100% Riesling planted on Devon Slate (best soil type of the area).

Gessinger Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Alte Reben Caldo Infernale made from 100 percent Riesling.

Typical Devonian slate Riesling with fruity elegance and great durability. Big and rich wine with ripe peach and pear on the nose, honeyed, citrus and mineral aromas. Clean and pure, distinctive character. Very long finish.

Review:

"I loved the 2015, and the 2017 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Alte Reben Caldo Infernale is even better, offering a lush, rich, yet still vibrant style as well as gorgeous notes of honeyed nectarines, candied orange, peach, and exotic flowers. It packs plenty of sweetness and is medium to full-bodied, with solid acidity and a kiss of petrol and mineral nuances keeping it lively and fresh."

- Jeb Dunnuck (August 2020), 93 pts

Hansen-Lauer Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Spätlese was grown on grey devonian slate and comes from a vineyard overlooking the picturesque town of Bernkastel-Kues located in a bend of the Middle Mosel. The wine shows everything that makes a classic Mosel Riesling, minerality, acidity and fruit nicely balanced.
The ageing potential of this wine is 15 years.

The grapes were hand-picked at the end of October. The fermentation took two months at low temperatures to preserve some residual sugar. The young wine was left sitting on the fine lees for another three months afterwards giving a rounder balance. 

Bottling occured seven months after harvest.

This is a full-grown wine which doesn't need any accompanying dish, but if you are looking for one try to pair it with Roquefort cheese (blue cheese), foie gras or desert like fruit cake.

Review:

"A step up, the 2015 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Spätlese offer more complexity in its sugared peach, honeyed minerality, and subtle petrol aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, with bright acidity, it’s a winner as well as about as easy-drinking as it gets.”
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 90 pts

A very fine bubbles along with a very nice fruit (apple, pear, citrus) and minerality coming from the stony (slate) vineyards.

Production techniques: the Sekt is bottle fermented, stayed on the lees for 12 months, thus giving it very fine bubbles along with a very nice fruit and minerality. The vineyard sites are Bernkasteler Graben, Bernkasteler Badstube, Bernkasteler Bratenhöfchen, Graacher Himmelreich. The vineyards are situated at the beginning of a long stretch of approx. 2 million vines.

Hansen Lauer Sekt Riesling Brut is made from 100 percent Riesling grown on Devonian slate.

A very fine bubbles along with a very nice fruit (apple, pear, citrus) and minerality coming from the stony (slate) vineyards.

Production techniques: the Sekt is bottle fermented, stayed on the lees for 12 months, thus giving it very fine bubbles along with a very nice fruit and minerality.

The vineyard sites are Bernkasteler Graben, Bernkasteler Badstube, Bernkasteler Bratenhöfchen, Graacher Himmelreich. The vineyards are situated at the beginning of a long stretch of approx. 2 million vines.

Enjoy on its own as an aperitif or with delicate food, such as pike, lobster and scalops.

Maringer-Reif Piesporter Michelsberg (liter) is 100 percent Riesling.

A beautiful wine with delicate perfumed aromas. Medium bodied, well balanced, filled with peaches and green apples, crisp and fresh acidity.

QBA stands for "Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete", which means that the wine comes from one of the 13 designated wine regions.

Ideal by itself or to complement a variety of meat and seafood dishes.

Matheus Piesporter Gold Riesling Kabinett is made from 100 percent Riesling. 

This Goldtröpfchen ranks as an unofficial "Grand Cru" delivering light floral and fresh Kabinett style wines.
Their later harvest wines, Spatlese and Auslese, tend toward apricot flavors, honeyed notes and superb intensity. All grapes are grown on Devonian slate.

Enjoy with slightly spiced sushi or moderately spicy Indian cuisine such as chicken Vindaloo.

Matheus Piesporter Michelsburg QBA  (liter) is 100 percent Riesling

A beautiful wine with delicate perfumed aromas. Medium bodied, well balanced, filled with peaches and green apples, crisp and fresh acidity.

QBA stands for "Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete", which means that the wine comes from one of the 13 designated wine regions.

Ideal by itself or to complement a variety of meat and seafood dishes.

Matheus Piesporter Michelsburg QBA  (liter) is 100 percent Riesling

A beautiful wine with delicate perfumed aromas. Medium bodied, well balanced, filled with peaches and green apples, crisp and fresh acidity.

QBA stands for "Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete", which means that the wine comes from one of the 13 designated wine regions.

Ideal by itself or to complement a variety of meat and seafood dishes.

St. Nikolaus Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is made from 100 percent Riesling. 

"Sonnenuhr" means sundial. The vineyard is facing the small town of Wehlen, located in the middle of a long steep curved slate slope on the Mosel, with a south-southwest exposure.
The wine exhibits a fresh fruity bouquet of peach and apricots with honey and spicy notes. Strong, sweet and long flavors. Elegant, full bodied and luscious wine with good minerality and acidity on the palate.

The vineyard consists of 0.7 hectares (1.7 acres) and the soil type is light Devonian slate. 
The Sun exposition is south-southwest with an inclination of 50 %. 
The yield was 50 hl/hectare.

No Oak. Fermentation took 2 months and the wine was left on the lees for 3 months before bottling.

Review:

- Wine Enthusiast (January 2020), 92 pts