Dr. Loosen 2015 "Blue Slate" Riesling Kabinett Mosel Prädikatswein ($19.99)
Ripe, juicy peaches on the nose and palate at first, joined by tangerine as the wine warms in the glass. Sharp acidity works to balance fresh-fruit sweetness on the palate, again becoming a little more rounded and subtle with warmth; this wine is really better at cellar than refrigerator temperature. Aromatic fruit and tingly acidity linger, with a hint of stony minerality becoming more evident in the long finish. Just 8 percent alcohol, not unusual in German whites. U.S. importer: Loosen Brothers USA, Salem, Oregon. (Oct. , 2017)
FOOD MATCH: Its zippy acidity makes it a bit tart for drinking alone, but it comes into its own when its edges are softened by a fatty food companion, buttery cheeses or sausages or pork.
WHEN TO DRINK: There's no rush for Riesling, but I would look to Dr. Loosen's higher-end offerings for cellaring.
VALUE: This fine Kabinett is fairly priced even a couple of bucks over
Wine-Searcher.com's $18 average U.S. retail; if you can grab it from one of the vendors offering it in the middle teens, it's a top value.
WEB LINKDr. Loosen's English-language website offers
this fact sheet on all the estate Rieslings. Page down to find a paragraph on "Blue Slate" with links to technical information and label images.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:Find vendors and compare prices for
Dr. Loosen "Blue Slate" Riesling Kabinett on Wine-Searcher.com.
Wagner Stempel 2015 Rheinhessen Riesling Trocken Gutswein ($19.99)
Clear straw color. Its bold aroma starts out with a strong whiff of that "minerally" Riesling scent that some liken to petrol or clean motor oil - in a
good way - but after an hour or so in the glass it opens up to something more like fragrant white flowers with a back note of honeydew melon. On the palate it's rather full-bodied, almost unctuous, but firmly shaped by tart, mouth-watering acidity. A distinct touch of stony minerality joins more subtle honeydew and brisk acidity, all hanging on with a not-unpleasant touch of bitterness joining in a
very long finish. The label lists alcohol at 12.5%. U.S. importer: Cellars International Inc., Rudi Wiest, Carlsbad, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2017)
FOOD MATCH: The bold aromatics and pushy acidity made a surprisingly good match with an early-fall dinner of Tuscan-style white beans with onions, garlic, good olive oil and fresh minced sage.
WHEN TO DRINK: It might be interesting to see what a few years in the cellar would do with its bold aromas.
VALUE: It's a buck or two over
Wine-Searcher.com's $18 average retail but still fairly priced; better still if you can get a better price down to $15
at some Wine-Searcher links.
WEB LINKImporter Rudi Wiest offers
this fact sheet about Wagner Stempel on its web page.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:Find vendors and compare prices for
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/wagner+stempel+riesling+trocken+rheinessen+germany/1/usa?referring_site=WLP on Wine-Searcher.com.
Fritz Zimmer 2015 Mosel Riesling Auslese Deutscher Mosel Prädikatswein ($14.99)
Transparent straw color. Light but delicious scent of melon and orange blossom leads into a bright, fresh flavor that's all about tangerine juice, pleasantly sweet but crisp, with sufficient acidity to keep the fresh-fruit sugars in balance. There's a touch of "stony, rainwater" minerality lurking behind the sweet citrus, but tangerine and orange blossom play the lead roles. It's easy to drink at a very light (but typical for Mosel Auslese) 7.5% alcohol. U.S. importer: Winesellers Ltd., Niles, Ill. (Oct. , 2017)
FOOD MATCH: It went quite well with an Italian-style dish of long-cooked romano beans with onions and garlic and plenty of grated Parmigiano, and its light sweetness would also hold up to modestly hot-and-spicy fare. It also went well with cheese, and of course would be fine for sipping before or after dinner or any other time.
WHEN TO DRINK: Although Riesling certainly
can age, the modest model is so delicious right now, I'd be tempted to drink it up soon and save the more upscale bottles for cellaring.
VALUE: It's a decent value in the mid-teens.
WEB LINKHere's a fact sheet about the winery from importer Winesellers Ltd.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:WineSearcher.com came up short on this item, but you'll find
a large selection of various other Mosel Riesling Auslese wines at this Wine-Searcher link.