7.5%

Markus Molitor, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Riesling Spätlese, 2006

torsten — Wed, 04 May 2011 06:27:35 +0000

Markus Molitor, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Riesling Spätlese, 2006

"Gold, gold, gold - molten gold flowing into our glasses." That was the impression Markus Molitor's late harvest Riesling had left when I first tried it in the summer of 2008. Now, opening my last bottle, I had the same, most pleasant sensation, just enhanced with a little more wisdom of age (the wine I mean, certainly not me).

Late harvest (Spätlese) Riesling from the Mosel to me is one of the most exciting manifestations of wine, ideally light, elegant, full of character and with the right dosage of residual sugar to tempt you for yet another glass without cloying you with too much sweetness.

torsten Wednesday, 04/05/2011

Jos. Christoffel Jr., Ürziger Würzgarten, Riesling Spätlese, 1993

Julian — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:53:49 +0000

Jos. Christoffel Jr., Ürziger Würzgarten, Riesling Spätlese, 1993

The Mosel, Germany's best known wine region, hosts many styles of Riesling winemaking: There are the modernists, there are the traditionalists, there are the ultra-traditionalist. And then, there is Jos. Christoffel Jun. The winery's website nicely underscores their brand of conservatism, in that there isn't one. If you want to get your hands on any of the older vintages (back into the 80s, rumour has it) they still have on offer, get your ass down to the Mosel. Or else get lucky on eBay, like your undeservedly fortunate correspondent. For about 12 €, shipment included, I got this Spätlese from the year Frank Zappa died.

Julian Friday, 25/03/2011

Reinhold Haart, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Riesling Spätlese, 2009

torsten — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:56:39 +0000

Reinhold Haart, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Riesling Spätlese, 2009

Over the past few years I have reviewed quite a few Haart Rieslings, and for this reason I had considered scaling down for a while (with the writing, not the drinking of course) in order not to bore you. It's good I did not make it into a New Year's resolution though, as the latest Haart I opened was so stunning I honestly cannot remember having had a young Mosel late harvest Riesling of this quality.

torsten Friday, 04/02/2011

Reinhold Haart, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Riesling Auslese, 2008

torsten — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 09:18:26 +0000

Reinhold Haart, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Riesling Auslese, 2008

Cool mineral, herbs and peach - whenever I hear these words I have to think of the bouquet of the Rieslings Theo Haart produces from grapes grown in the famous Goldtröpfchen vineyard at the Mosel. This wine is no exception, it just adds tropical fruit and a hint of citrus to the mix, plus aromas of rubber balls and a faint hint of vegetable, identified as broccoli by my friend Bethan. For a wine of Auslese quality it is still relatively young, so maybe give it some decanter love to allow it to develop properly.

torsten Sunday, 26/12/2010

Reinhold Haart, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Riesling Spätlese, 2003

torsten — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:10:29 +0000

Reinhold Haart, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Riesling Spätlese, 2003

It has been a while, way too long, actually, since I reported on a wine made by the lovely people from the Haart winery. The winery is based in the village of Piesport, a name that is infamous in the UK for cheap wine, but famous among wine lovers for the Goldtröpfchen (little drop of gold) vineyard, one of the best at the Mosel. The Haart family has been making wine since the 14th century and the sweet Rieslings of Theo Haart, who runs the family estate with his wife and son, have an excellent reputation. For me they are also the embodiment of what I love about the Mosel style of winemaking.

torsten Sunday, 07/03/2010

Markus Molitor, Niedermenniger Herrenberg, Auslese ***, 2005

torsten — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:28:01 +0000

Markus Molitor, Niedermenniger Herrenberg, Auslese ***, 2005

Half bottle Rieslings are very tempting. Not because getting half the amount of wine is exciting as such, but because these small bottles often contain some of the highest quality drops of sweet molten gold. A three star Auslese ('selection') wine from top Mosel winemaker Molitor would have to be a candidate for a top quality sweet wine. Or is it?

torsten Sunday, 17/05/2009