2001 Schloss Johannisberger Riesling Kabinett (Rheingau)
Light golden-yellow colour. Decanted a short while before drinking, and it showed superbly (unlike my last bottle a few weeks ago that seemed in a 'tightly wound and ungiving' phase for a couple of days). Fantastic complex nose with lots of smoke, flowers and hints of petrol amidst white fruit and minerals. Intense on the palate with far more richness than I would expect in a Kabinett, showing full flavours of smoke, green apple, grapefruit, lemon and minerals around a core of acidity and minerals. Finishes with good length. A complex, fascinating wine that's great to sit with and explore over a couple of hours.
2005 Carl Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett (Mosel)
Very pale yellow colour. Sulphur dominates first, but it blows off with a little air to reveal the fantastic apple-pear-citrus-slate-herbal-floral flavour profile I'm used to in Schmitt-Wagner's Rieslings. I can't praise these wines enough. These wines cost between 15-20 (depending on pradikat), and consistently deliver that mix of incredibly bright, precise fruit flavours, racy acidity and intense slate/stoniness and a spicy or herbal character underneath that I always get from this vineyard. Absolutely delicious, elegant, very food-friendly - just fantastic wine to open and drink on a weekend. I'm just kicking myself for buying only one bottle of this the last time I saw this on a shelf.
