In-laws are in town, Betsy made steamed shrimp with ginger and scallion,
brown rice, and baby bok choy for a nice dinner on the patio. I thought maybe Riesling with a touch of sweetness for the meal, and opened the 2001 Dr. Nagler Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spatlese Feinherb (Rheingau). I have no one to blame but myself. I had been picking up some wines from a store where I always say "only recent releases", but the sight of a 2001 Spatlese at $8 -even from a producer I dont know- seduced me. I shoulda stuck by my guns, ack. Apple juice gone bad, this is one cooked/dead wine.
A quick trip to grab another Riesling, first thing I grabbed was the 2004 Maximin Grünhauser(Von Schubert) Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett (Mosel Saar Ruwer). Bracing acidity is balanced by gentle sweetness, floral nose with a bit of almost Muscadet-ish minerality. Fruit is an amalgram of Granny Smith apple and lime, length is good, approachable but probably could use a little time. B+/A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency