Ürziger Würzgarten

Any thoughts on the quality of the properties for Loosen, Monchhoff, Christoffel, and Merkelbach in Ürziger Würzgarten? Are they well-placed for each, marginal, etc? I know there are other smaller producers in the area... are any of them noteworthy and worth seeking-out?

[David M. Bueker]

I do not think you need to be terribly concerned with the specific parcels within the Urziger Wurzgarten right now. You're really talking about 4 producers with 4 dramatically different styles of wine (though recent Chrsitoffels are much closer to Monchof due to common management).

I think they are going to do fleurbereinigung in the near future, and that could have an impact even beyond them all ending up with lots of young vines.

Sounds like any of those producers would be interesting to try.

I've gotten increasingly interested in riesling, but haven't had many Ur Wurz (in the Mosel I've tended to sample from Graach and Wehlen mostly, to date), so I'm just trying to get a sense of what to sample. Premier Cru has some 375s of 2001 Loosen Ur Wurz Auslese GKA that seem like a reasonable start for $27.

I've gotten increasingly interested in riesling, but haven't had many Ur Wurz (in the Mosel I've tended to sample from Graach and Wehlen mostly, to date)

That is a very focused comparison of Middle Mosel. Not a bad way to learn.

Then you might want to branch out to other regions just to highlight the differences.

Enjoy!

I wish I could say it was the result of a well-considered plan... but, mostly, it's just that the local shops carry plenty of JJ Prum, Willi Schaefer, Selbach-Oster, and a bit of Kees-Kieren and Kerpen.

[David M. Bueker]

I am not sure that gold capsule auslese is the best way to learn the nuances of the Urziger Wurzgraten, especially if the wine is only 7 years old. Seen any spatlese?

Yes... so that's more of really an opportunity purchase... seems like a good producer, good year, nice price... I have some things on order that have come in from PC, but I've got space left to add some bottles to the shipment... and this gives me an excuse to start looking for kabinett and spatlese bottlings to explore in that part of the Mosel.