Category Archives: germany

Peter Lauer ‘Senior’ Fass 6 Riesling 2016

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Estate: With its distinctive microclimate, the Saar region of the Mosel is regarded as one of the premium Riesling producing areas, and winemaker Florian Lauer is recognized as “one of the greatest winemakers in this sacred place”. Lauer’s vineyards are located on the hillsides of the Kupp, and it has been his life’s work to preserve his family’s old vines [up to 100 years in age]. For an in-depth look at Florian Lauer’s pioneering Riesling and estate history, click here.

Philosophy: Lauer’s goal is to craft “stylish wines with elegance, not too alcoholic but with depth and density”.

Winemaking: The estate is organic and adamantly utilizes spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. Vineyard parcels are harvested separately and fermented with their own natural yeasts, allowing the vineyard’s character full expression. The word “fass” [barrel] seen on many of the labels, is an identifier of each wine and vineyard parcel. ‘Senior’ is considered by Lauer as “a village-level wine”, however it is a single vineyard wine with an average vine age of 70 years, sourced completely from the Ayler Kupp.

Tasting Notes: Pale gold with green hues in colour. Aromas of apple, honey and minerals abound. Sunny apple, honey, lemon and a trace of rosemary are underscored by bright acidity. A nuance of petrol accents fresh citrus and minerals on the clean finish. Well balanced and focused.

100% Riesling
Mosel
Germany
11.5% Alcohol
$29
Enjoy now thru 2026

Fritz Müller ‘Perlwein Rosa’ Trocken NV

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Winery: Fritz Müller was founded in 2009 by Guido Walter, a “hardworking, cheerful wine merchant from Munich, and “rising star” winemaker Jürgen Hofmann, from Appenheim in Rhinehessen, Germany’s largest wine producing region. The duo’s goal in establishing the winery was to “breathe new life into a traditional German grape variety which had been pushed out of the public eye: Müller-Thurgau”. They have received many accolades for revitalizing German sparkling wine and crafting character driven, inexpensive wines.

Philosophy: “To create a fresh, fruity, exhilarating wine that makes people happy.”

Tasting Notes: Bright red-pink in colour with aromas of fresh strawberry, raspberry and minerals. Red berries with a pinch of pepper abound, but the star here is the sprightly, fizzy red grapefruit and mineral finish. Friendly and so fun to drink, each fizzy, fruity glass will disappear much faster than you expect.

Serving Suggestions from the Winery: Serve at 47°F [8°C], on the rocks, or as a cocktail with a sprig of mint.

Portugieser and Spätburgunder [Pinot Noir] [I could not confirm varietal percentages.]
Germany
12% Alcohol
$12
Enjoy now

Selbach ‘incline’ Mosel Riesling 2013

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incline

Referred to as “all that Mosel wine should be”, this is a fantastic, affordable approach into the exquisite, renowned world of Mosel Riesling.

Estate: The Selbach family has been making wine for 400 years, today Barbara and Johannes Selbach are at the helm, their children Hannah and Sebastian will be the next generation of Selbach winemakers. The 21 hectares of vineyards are located on steep slate slopes in the “golden mile” from Zeltingen, Wehlen, Graach to Bernkastel, in the heart of the Mosel region of Germany. Johannes’s winemaking skills are said to be “on fire” and improve with each vintage. Selbach-Oster is their premium range of wines; Selbach is the entry level label of the estate. Selbach ‘incline’ was produced by Johannes Selbach “to simply outshine all Mosel Rieslings at, or near, its price point”.

Philosophy: To “produce Riesling wines of top quality, grown in harmony with Nature”, along with allowing that “nature should take it’s course and the wine should be interfered with as little as possible”.

Winemaking: The name ‘incline’ refers to the incredibly steep slopes of the vineyards. All vineyard work is done by hand, from pruning to harvesting. Wild, indigenous yeasts are used during fermentation. Vinified in stainless steel.

Tasting Notes: Pale gold in colour with aromas of white flowers, pear and minerals. Clear and vibrant with pear and honeysuckle flavours skating atop a slate mineral backbone, a complimenting, bright acidity introduces the refreshing lemon finish.

[A Terry Theise Estate Selection. I am a huge fan of Terry Theise, and find his wines and writing inspirational. I’m a firm believer that his book Reading Between the Wines should be on everyone’s shelf.]

100% Riesling
Mosel
Germany
Bottled and Shipped by J. & H. Selbach Weinkellerei
11.5% Alcohol
$11
Enjoy now thru 2018

Rated 90 points by Wine Spectator

Urban Riesling Mosel 2013

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urban

Tangy and fresh with a harmonising symmetry between acidity and sweetness.

Estate: Weingut St. Urbans was founded in 1947 by Nicolaus Weis, a winemaker dedicated to the traditions of German viticulture. Today his grandson Nikolaus is the 3rd generation owner and manager of the nearly 86 acre estate. It is the second largest family owned estate in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region of Germany. The vineyards are located on steep slopes and are comprised of the characteristic slate soil of the Mosel region.

Philosophy: The winery takes a minimal, non-interference approach and regards man as the guide, rather than the winemaker, with a belief that “great wine isn’t manufactured, great wine is grown”.

Winemaking: Nik Weis is emphatic about his use of traditional methods, using only organic fertilizers in the vineyards to maintain the natural balance in the soil, yields are kept low, all harvesting is done by hand, and the grapes are transported from the vineyard in traditional containers to ensure optimum quality. Wines are fermented spontaneously without the addition of yeast, “yeasts which are found naturally in the cellar, or which come into the cellar from the pressed skins, ferment the juice naturally”. This is his entry level Riesling consisting of grapes sourced from neighbouring vineyards with blue slate soils that he then vinified.

Tasting Notes: Pale straw in colour with aromas of melon and wet slate minerals. Apple, lemon and nuances of white flowers merged into lingering flavours of sweet honey, clean minerals and hints of ginger spice.

100% Riesling
Mosel
Germany
Bottled by I. Weis Export e.K.
9.5% Alcohol
$8
Enjoy now thru 2017

J.L. Wolf Villa Wolf Gewürztraminer 2012

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villawolf

A lovely, easy drinking Gewürztraminer with a lively acidity that balances the sunny sweetness.

Estate: The J.L. Wolf estate was founded in 1756 and produced highly regarded wines for more the 200 years. After a small decline in the late 20th century, it was revitalized by Ernst Loosen, of the Dr. Loosen estate in 1996. Villa Wolf is the estate’s “value-priced line of varietal wines”.

Philosophy: Ernst Loosen acquired the J.L. Wolf estate with the goal of producing “powerful, traditionally crafted Pfalz wines to compliment his lighter Dr. Loosen wines from Mosel”.

Winemaking: Sustainable viticulture is practiced, along with minimalist intervention in the production and cellar. Grapes for Villa Wolf wines are sourced from the estate along with contracted growers.

Tasting Notes: Light gold in colour with balmy aromas of spicy ginger, apple and traces of sweet herbs. Apple, peach and sweet lychee flavours harmonized with a lively acidity along with clean minerals and hints of ginger spice on the perky finish.

100% Gewürztraminer
Pfalz
Germany
Bottled by Villa Wolf GmbH
12% Alcohol
$10
Enjoy now thru 2016