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Loosen Brothers Dr L Dry Riesling 2024 750ml
Loosen Bros. Dr. L Dry Riesling — Mosel, Germany 2024
Ernst Loosen is one of the Mosel's most passionate and influential winemakers — a tireless ambassador for German Riesling who has spent decades proving that the grape can be both profound and approachable. Dr. L is his entry-level expression and his most widely sold wine, designed specifically to introduce drinkers to the delicate, racy style that defines Riesling grown in the ancient slate-soil vineyards of the Mosel valley. It is, in Ernst's own words, his "ambassador" for the region — and it delivers that mission at a price that makes it an everyday staple.
The 2024 pours a pale, luminous straw. The nose is bright and inviting — fresh citrus, green apple, white peach, and the distinctive mineral lift of Mosel slate. On the palate, it's refreshing and fruit-driven with a juicy mid-palate, lively acidity, and a crisp, clean, drying finish. Light, invigorating, and endlessly food-friendly — this is Riesling at its most honest and enjoyable.
"Ernst Loosen's ambassador for the Mosel region and for the Riesling variety — the delicate and racy style characteristic of slate-soil Mosel vineyards, at an affordable price for every day enjoyment." — Loosen Bros.
- Producer: Loosen Bros. (Ernst Loosen), Mosel, Germany
- Vintage: 2024
- Appellation: Mosel QbA
- Varietal: Riesling
- Style: Dry
- Terroir: Slate-soil vineyards, Mosel Valley
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Citrus, green apple, white peach, slate minerality, crisp dry finish
- Best Paired With: Grilled fish, sushi, Thai cuisine, roast chicken, fresh goat cheese, light salads
The Mosel's most beloved everyday Riesling — slate-driven, refreshing, and priced for every night of the week.
Kimich Riesling Kabinett Trocken Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker Pfalz 2024 1Liter
Our Professional Review
Rand Sieger 67wino.shop | This is the lemonade of wine. A super fresh and juicy summer quaffer to have with all your lighter summer foods. The first aromas that come up from the glass are crushed lilies of the valley and white pepper, followed
by citrus and fresh pineapple. Dry, lean, fresh and juicy on the palate.
Winemaker Description
A liter of the raciest, most energetic and appealingly mineralische Riesling imaginable. Alc: 12% Residual sugar: 7,5 g/ltr Acidity: 7,6 g/ltr Must weight: 88° Oechsle Harvest on 26th of September 2019, Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel. On the fine yeast until bottling in stainless steel tanks (26th of February 2021) Bright yellow colour with green highlights; in the nose aromas of apple, yellow stone fruits and freshness; on the palate very harmonic, totally dry and refreshing.
Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker is a single vineyard site with a size of 121 hectares. 10% of the vineyard site is steep, 20% hilly and 70% are flat. The soil varies between sandy loam and loamy sand, mixed with limestone rocks and red sandstone. The name “Herrgottsacker” is probably derived from the word “Gottesacker” (which is a former word for cementery) andThis interpretation from Kimich, a small, traditional, 8th generation estate, is an absurd value in the liter bottle (33% more wine)!
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Les Jardins 2023 750ml
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Les Jardins — Alsace 2023
Domaine Ostertag is one of Alsace's most visionary estates. Founded in the 1960s and transformed by André Ostertag after his Burgundy training, the domaine pioneered biodynamic viticulture and terroir-driven winemaking in the region. Today, André's son Arthur helms the estate with the same restless curiosity — low yields, slow and gentle pressing, long élevages, and wines built to "create thirst, not quench it." The 2023 Les Jardins is a particularly compelling expression: all of the Le Berceau fruit (not produced as a separate cuvée in 2023) was folded in, along with additions from Clos Matis on granite, giving this wine unusual depth and complexity for an entry-level Riesling. Vinous awarded it 92 points.
The nose is crystalline and floral — spring blossom, guelder rose petal, and fresh green apple with a creamy, transparent purity that only Riesling can deliver. On the palate, it is smooth, ripe, and gently textured, with a subtle salty linearity that drives freshness forward through a bone-dry, focused finish. Stony, savory, and utterly delicious.
Vinous 92 — "A floral creaminess, almost like a shower of spring blossom, guelder rose petal and fresh, green apple notes. The palate is smooth, ripe and gentle, with a subtle, salty linearity that gives direction to its creaminess. A balanced, bone-dry Riesling." (Vintage 2023).
- Producer: Domaine Ostertag, Epfig, Alsace, France
- Vintage: 2023
- Appellation: Alsace AOC
- Varietal: 100% Riesling
- Farming: Biodynamic, hand-harvested
- Style: Bone-dry
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Spring blossom, guelder rose, green apple, creamy texture, salty mineral finish
- Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, Alsatian choucroute, soft cheeses, roast chicken
A 92-point biodynamic Riesling from one of Alsace's most important estates — bone-dry, stony, and built to brighten any meal.
Dr Lippold Empress Josephine's Riesling Mosel 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
The grapes for this delicious Riesling come from the prized area of Ürziger Würztgarten, in the middle Mosel above the village of Ürzig. Vinified and aged entirely in stainless steel vats, and intentionally released after a minimum of one year in the bottle, it displays classic Mosel mineral and lime notes throughout with bright, crisp acidity and just enough residual sugar to soften the edges.
Memo Summary Notes
The wine is a tribute to Napoleon’s wife, Empress Josephine, who famously fell in love with German Rieslings during her travels in the early 1800s. Her endorsement made Riesling the "fashionable" drink of the European elite. Dr. Enno Lippold crafts this specific cuvée to capture that historic, elegant style.
Because of residual sugar, this wine is the ultimate pairing for spicy food.
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Thai Green Curry or Spicy Sushi Rolls (with spicy mayo/wasabi). The sugar calms the heat, while the acidity cleanses the palate.
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Classic Roast Pork with Apples: The sweetness of the wine mirrors the fruit in the dish.
Schloss Lieser Riesling Niederberg Helden Feinherb 2021 750ml
Schloss Lieser | Riesling Niederberg Helden Feinherb 2021 | Mosel, Germany
Thomas Haag's Niederberg Helden is one of the Mosel's most storied steep-slope sites — a south-facing amphitheater of blue Devonian slate just east of the village of Lieser. The slate imparts a signature mineral grip and cool-climate tension that defines this wine's character.
Feinherb is the winemaker's own style: poised between dry and semi-sweet, it is built for the table — the gentle residual sweetness cuts through spice, while the electric acidity stands up to rich, savory dishes.
The 2021 vintage was a cooler, more classic year in the Mosel, producing wines of exceptional energy and precision. This bottling delivers intense wild herb, crisp pear, and white peach on a sleek, compact frame, with a stony mineral undertow and impressive length. Drink now or cellar with confidence.
Tasting Notes - Vintage 2021
James Suckling — 94 Points: The intense wild herb character gives this sleek and compact 2021 Mosel a very striking personality. Lots of crisp pear and white peach fruit fill this picture out neatly. The impressive length suggests this has many years ahead of it. Drink or hold.
Wine Enthusiast — 90 Points (Aleks Zecevic): Well tuned and flowing with grace, this wine delivers notes of understated passion fruit and kumquat. A stony undertow adds to the charm and complexity. Not a blockbuster — for those who value nuance and subtlety.
Technical Details
Variety: Riesling | Vineyard: Niederberg Helden | Region: Mosel, Germany | Soil: Blue Devonian Slate | Fermentation: Stainless Steel | Size: 750ml
J.B. Becker Rielsing Wallufer Walkenberg Spatlese Trocken 2023 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2023
JamesSuckling.com by Stuart Pigott writes 94 Points | With its aromas of nutty, old-fashioned apple varieties and ripe quince, this striking dry riesling is an unspectacular beauty. It’s medium-bodied with a wonderful harmony of silky acidity, a hauntingly subtle minerality and a very long, stony finish that somehow manages to be very gentle. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Winemaker Description
The nose here is just a shade riper, with tart citrus flirting with barely ripe apricot, heading toward the peach register though highlighted by lemon curd and lemon zest, pretty citrus elements to brighten it up, even the riper twang of a lime. This has more density, for sure, more richness, though it has plenty of definition. Thinking of these wines in the context of the Rheingau is just crazy; my teeth are aching. The whole collection has acids – I should get the numbers here, if Eva hasn’t already sent them [note to reader: I never got any numbers on the acids b/c I'm just too buried in work right now]. There is a limey quality to this, sticky but fresh, gripping, that I really like. These are very damn good.
Hans-Josef Becker’s grandfather (J.B.) founded this winery in 1893, and it is home to some truly astounding wines. The Spätlese Trocken is somehow both very serious and firmly structured, yet remains bright and affable. The old vines show incredible concentration - this wine is just a baby and could be cellared for decades. On the other hand, the 2022 vintage displays plenty of juicy, expressive fruit with crushing acidity and a bold mouthfeel. These wines have achieved cult-status for good reason.
Hugel Classic Riesling 2024 750ml
Hugel Classic Riesling — Alsace, France 2024
Famille Hugel is one of Alsace's most storied and respected wine dynasties — founded in Riquewihr in 1639 and now in its fourteenth generation of family ownership, making it one of the oldest continuously operating wine estates in the world. From their base in the medieval village of Riquewihr at the heart of the Alsace wine route, the Hugel family has been a defining force in establishing Alsace Riesling as one of the world's great white wine styles: dry, mineral, precise, and built for the table. The Classic Riesling is the family's signature expression — sourced from around half estate-grown fruit from Riquewihr, supplemented by select villages to the north and south, and crafted to showcase the finesse, frankness, and electric minerality that define Hugel's house style. It is their most demanding variety, as Riesling is also the latest ripening — expressing itself best on the steepest slopes with the most complex minerality.
The nose is unusually expressive for a Classic: a kiss of crushed fennel seed rises above pear and lemon — aromatic, precise, and inviting. On the palate, it is super slender and vividly bright, almost sylph-like, with exquisite lemony charm and lemon pithiness. Electric, vivid, and bone-dry, with a lip-smacking finish that is a tonic on any occasion. Wonderful balance and elegance — the ideal partner to fish and seafood.
Vinous 89 — "The palate is super slender and vividly bright, almost sylph-like but with exquisite lemony charm and lemon pithiness. This is an electric, vivid little Riesling; the finish is bone-dry and lip-smacking and should be a tonic on a hot day." (Vintage 2024).
- Producer: Famille Hugel, Riquewihr, Alsace, France (est. 1639)
- Vintage: 2024
- Appellation: Alsace AOC
- Varietal: 100% Riesling
- Style: Bone-dry
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Crushed fennel seed, pear, lemon, lemon pith, electric acidity, mineral, bone-dry lip-smacking finish
- Drink: Now through 2030
- Best Paired With: Grilled fish, oysters, sushi, scallops, lobster, Alsatian choucroute, soft cheeses, asparagus
Fourteen generations of Alsace Riesling mastery — Hugel Classic 2024 is electric, bone-dry, and one of France's most reliably brilliant white wine values.
Dierler-Cade Alsace Riesling 2023 750ml
DIRLER-CADÉ ALSACE RIESLING 2023 | 750ML
🇫🇷 France — Riesling | Alsace
A jolt of energy delivered with ease and gentleness. This estate Riesling is harvested across Dirler-Cadé’s holdings, including fruit from the Grand Crus of Saering, Kitterlé, Kessler, Spiegel, Belzbrunnen, and Oberer Spiegel — with 70% of the estate’s Riesling on grand cru sites, this is a village wine with exceptional raw material. The nose is scented and bright, with navel orange peel and a touch of apricot. The palate is immediately vibrant, racy, slender, and crystalline — vivid, light, and bone-dry, with all the freshness and precision that defines great Alsatian Riesling.
All plots at Dirler-Cadé have been farmed biodynamically since 1998, with the goal of expressing the exceptional personality of each terroir. The estate’s four Grand Crus — Kitterlé, Saering, Spiegel, and Kessler — are each associated with one of the four elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. The Saering (“sea ring”) recalls the calcareous sediments deposited in the Oligocene period, producing wines that are juicy, broad, and dense with great power.
92 Points — Vinous
“The palate is immediately vibrant, racy, slender and crystalline. This is so vivid, light and vibrant. The 2023 is a jolt of energy delivered with ease and gentleness despite all its wonderful freshness. Bravo. (Bone-dry)” (Vintage 2023).93 Points — Ian d’Agata (Vintage 2023).
92 Points — RVF
“The simple Riesling is a good introduction to the house style, precise and sapid.” (Vintage 2023).
Pairs well with: Alsatian choucroute, grilled fish, oysters, soft cheeses, and Asian cuisine.
Grape: Riesling
Region: Alsace, France
Vintage: 2023
Style: Bone-dry
Format: 750ml
Viticulture: Biodynamic since 1998
Scores: 93 pts Ian d’Agata | 92 pts Vinous | 92 pts RVF
Karthauserhof Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2022 750ml
94 Points James Suckling | Very enticing nose with a wide spectrum of citrus aromas, plus a fresh yellow peach note developing with some aeration, then fresh mint. Very elegant with a wonderful minty coolness that makes this light-bodied off-dry Riesling feel as if it is floating like a cloud. Moderate acidity for this category, but the wine is still extremely vibrant. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett opens with a deep, intense and complex, floral bouquet of weathered slate, ripe citrus and stone fruit aromas intermingled with saline notes. Round, refined and sweet but also mineral, with the lovely stimulating slate expression of the unique Karthäuserhofberg, this is a generous, almost rich but refined and filigreed Kabinett with lingering and salivating salinity and grip.
Vinous 90 Points | The 2022 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett has subtle peach and lemon on the nose. The lithe palate is dreamy, bright with lemon, gently sweet, and very tender. A subtle vein of lemon zestiness leaves this to finish in a refreshing, off-dry fashion at roughly 30g/L of residual sweetness. (Off-dry)
Winemaker Description
The spicy spontaneous nose still dominates, but then the first fruity notes (juicy peach, grapefruit, white currant) and the slate literally pushes itself out of the glass. Very juicy and densely woven on the palate, a lot of melting, sweetness well integrated and countered by the invigorating acidity. A cabinet that will continue to reveal new facets over the next two decades.
Schloss Lieser Riesling Estate Dry SL 2024 750ml
Schloss Lieser SL Feinherb Estate Riesling has herbal and minerally aroma, really flinty on the nose. Has aromas of fruit and slate that lead to a fresh and round palate with a salty finish.
Trimbach Frederic Emile Riesling Alsace 2014 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014
Stephan Reinhardt of the Wine Advocate writes 94+ Points | The 2014 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is highly complex on the clear, intense and smoky, lemony nose. Clear, fresh, straight and very mineral on the nose, this is a pure but complex, intense, stony Riesling that is pretty austere at the moment. Provided with racy acidity, but concentrated and mineral on the palate, this is exceptional dry Riesling with great tension. To be served in 10, 20 and even in 30 years. Drinking 2025 to 2040.
Ian D’Agata of Vinous writes 94+ Points | Vivid straw-green. Delicate nuances of jasmine and lemon verbena complicate aromas of green apple, lime and minerals. Pure and penetrating on the palate, boasting superb definition to the flavors of gin, mint, minerals, violet and lemon zest. The finish is remarkably crystalline and long. This Frédéric Emile is currently dominated by its Osterberg component (the cuvée is a blend of Osterberg and Geisberg grand cru grapes), which brings chiseled acidity, as opposed to the Geisberg’s ripe fruit personality and licorice quality. Despite the difficult year, this is likely to become a memorable Frédéric Emile. So much so, in fact, that it’s currently impossible to choose between it and the more famous Clos Sainte Hune. Drinking 2022 to 2045.
James Suckling writes 96 Points | So much mineral and sliced apple character with hints of orange and apple peel. Turns to steely character. Full-bodied, racy and bright. So lively. Great finish. Drink or hold on release.
Jeb Dunnuck writes 92+ Points | Coming close to a decade after the vintage, the 2014 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is still vivid and racy, with a taut, focused, almost austere style in its ripe citrus, crushed stone, hazelnut, and smoky mineral-driven aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied and nicely concentrated, with high yet integrated acidity, this needs another 4-5 years of bottle age, as it's currently austere, firm, and inward. It will be an incredibly long-lived Riesling, but how much pleasure it will ultimately deliver might be questionable. Drinking after 2027.
Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 95 Points | A bone-dry, racy white, with a lovely entry point of slate, petrol and brine aromas on the nose, plus a minerally profile that underscores notes of crunchy nectarine, kiwifruit, cherry blossoms, pink grapefruit pith and fresh thyme. Firm and linear, this graceful version exhibits seamless knit and definition. Drink now through 2039. - Wine Spectator 95
Jancis Robinson writes 17.5+ Points | To be released around 2022 or 2023. Razor-sharp nose and very tight. Lots to chew on. They could release this and no one would object but I can see why they want it to unfurl a bit. Drinking 2022 to 2035. - Jancis Robinson 17.5+
Winemaker Description
Bright, medium-gold with aromas of sweet nectarine, apricot, pineapple and candied peaches. Full-bodied with intensity, depth and beautiful mineral flavor. Rich, ripe acidity on the palate. Extraordinary balance between fruit and acidity with superb length. A wine of intense minerality and powerful acidity. The ideal wine to pair with fusion cuisines.
Dr Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2024 750ml
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling — Finger Lakes, New York 2024 750ml
Dr. Konstantin Frank is the founding father of vinifera winemaking in the Finger Lakes — a Ukrainian-born viticulturist who arrived in New York in 1951 and proved, against all skepticism, that great European varieties could thrive in the cold climate of upstate New York. His winery, established in 1962, remains the benchmark for the region, and the Dry Riesling is its flagship: a wine made from estate vines dating back to 1958, blended from a mosaic of sites across their Keuka Lake estate. The 2024 vintage is a true reflection of the season — structured, expressive, and unmistakably Finger Lakes.
Pale straw with brilliant clarity. The nose is profoundly aromatic: vibrant lime, stone fruit, ripe melon, white flowers, and citrus zest. On the palate, a dynamic interplay of apricot, nectarine, and distinct stoniness is supported by a backbone of bright, mouthwatering acidity. Despite its brisk freshness, the wine offers a rich texture and a lingering, elegant finish that speaks to the pedigree of site and the timeless character of this estate.
- Producer: Dr. Konstantin Frank, Hammondsport, Finger Lakes, New York
- Vintage: 2024
- Appellation: Finger Lakes
- Varietal: 100% Riesling
- Vines: Estate vines planted 1958
- Style: Dry Aromatic White
- Closure: Screwcap
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Lime, stone fruit, melon, apricot, nectarine, white flowers, citrus zest, slate minerality, elegant finish
- Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 5–10 years
- Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, sushi, spicy Thai, roast pork, soft cheeses
The wine that put the Finger Lakes on the world map — Dr. Frank’s Dry Riesling is American fine wine at its most historic and most delicious.
Peter Lauer Barrel X Riesling 2024 750ml
Winemaker Description
This is Lauer’s Platonic ideal of what a Saar Riesling should be. If we were in Burgundy this would be the equivalent of a Bourgogne Blanc.
As an appellation-level wine, it is sourced from multiple vineyards in three different villages of the Saar. This is always a thrilling off-dry and a silly value.
Brand Riesling Feinherb Biodynamic 2024 1L
Winemaker Description
Lively fruit and minerality on a zesty palate. Slightly sweet, with a dry finish. Unfined, unfiltered.
Founded in 1891, the Brand winery has been producing wine in the Pfalz for five generations. Their vineyards are located on limestone-rich soils around the village of Bockenheim, in the northern part of the region, along the border of the Rheinhessen. Daniel and Jonas' father, Jürgen, always farmed their vines responsibly, but when his children took over, they immediately transitioned to organic viticulture, gaining certification in 2017. The Brothers Brand also utilize biodynamic treatments, always experimenting to discover which practices work best in their vines. All of their wines are made with little, if any, added sulfites.
Wonderfully aromatic with lively fruit and minerality and a lovely zest and charge on the palate, perfectly balanced by the residual sugar. The Feinherb Riesling has a slight sweetness on the attack, though the sugar melds perfectly into the body, finishing dry and crisp. No fining or filtration and minimal use of sulfur.
Penfolds Riesling Bin 51 Eden Valley 2023
Expert Reviews — Vintage 2023
The Wine Advocate 93+ Points | The 2023 Bin 51 Riesling leads with an austere, searing nose of grilled lime, bath salts, lemon zest, crushed quartz, preserved citrus and pear skin. In the mouth, the wine is fleshy in its way and light on its feet — poised without being heavy or concentrated, with a cleansing, rounded finish.
Wine Spectator 91 Points | Tangy and bright lemon-lime flavors on a sleek frame, with green apple, white pepper and sea salt minerality, plus lingering grapefruit zest. 660 cases imported.
About Bin 51
Penfolds Bin 51 captures the essence of Eden Valley, South Australia — a high-altitude, cool-climate region with worldwide recognition for producing definitive, world-class Riesling. The region's elevation gives the wines great finesse, elegance, and a capacity for long-term cellaring.
The 2023 vintage shows lifted orange blossom and pink lady apple aromatics. The palate brims with blood orange, passionfruit, and lime, balanced by natural zesty lemon acidity. In youth, these wines possess scented floral and citrus aromas with a mineral edge and marked natural acidity that drives the palate texture.
Tasting & Pairings
Grilled lime, lemon zest, crushed quartz, green apple, white pepper, sea salt minerality, and grapefruit zest. Fleshy yet light on its feet with a cleansing, rounded finish. Serve well chilled.
- Seared scallops with citrus beurre blanc — mirrors the wine's lime and mineral notes.
- Thai green papaya salad — the acidity and fruit stand up to chili and lime dressing.
- Fresh oysters or ceviche — classic pairing for high-acid, mineral-driven Riesling.
Clemens Busch Riesling Marienburg GG Organic 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
Forge Cellars Riesling Classique 2023 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2023
James Suckling 93 Points | Excellent Mirabelle plum, bergamot and chamomile tea aromas are married to considerable textural depth on the compact, medium-bodied palate. Stony minerality drives the long finish.
The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Ripe but nervy, with a unique combination of plump peach, apricot and nectarine notes that are carried by a taut and tangy spine of fennel, quinine and ginger. Shows a bitter orange echo on the finish.
Winemaker Description
The Classique acts as an annual celebration of their work. It commemorates the efforts and dedication of their growers who take each vintage in stride by receiving each day with vulnerability and leaning into the gifts of Mother Nature. Their Classique is an imprint of their diverse and geologically rich region. For them, it represents the potential of Bone Dry Riesling on southeast Seneca Lake.
Memo Summary Notes
The Forge Cellars Riesling "Classique" 2023 is a benchmark dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes (Seneca Lake), New York. This winery is a collaboration between Louis Barruol (of the iconic Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas, France) and Rick Rainey, aiming to craft "bone dry" Rieslings that rival the grand crus of Alsace and Germany.
The "Classique" is their flagship blend, representing a "tapestry" of various vineyard sites along the southeast side of Seneca Lake.
Proidl Riesling Steilheit 2023 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2023
James Suckling 92 Points | Delicate peachy fruit and racy acidity are beautifully balanced on the sleek, medium-bodied palate. Excellent mountain freshness and wet-stone minerality at the super-clean and straight finish. Sustainable. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Two Paddocks Riesling Dry 2023 750ml
Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.
Decatner 93 Points | Taut and precise, mouthwatering and dry. Lime shot through with light peach and a dab of salt. From the same Red Bank Farm vineyard as the Picnic Riesling, but aged a little longer on the lees. Could take on spicy seafood or raw oysters. Will age well.
Prager Riesling Steinriegl Federspiel 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Federspiel is a designation of ripeness for dry wines, a term used exclusively by members of the Vinea Wachau.
Federspiel wines must be unchaptalized and fall between 11.5 and 12.5% ABV. The grapes are hand-harvested, typically in October, and are sent directly to press where they spontaneously ferment in stainless-steel tanks. Franz Prager, co-founder of the Vinea Wachau, had already earned a reputation for his wines when Toni Bodenstein married into the family.
Bodenstein’s passion for biodiversity and old terraces, coupled with brilliant winemaking, places Prager in the highest echelon of Austrian producers. Steinriegl is planted to Riesling and is Prager’s only vineyard west of Weißenkirchen.
The exceptionally steep, southwest-facing site has a cool mesoclimate due to its proximity to the forest, and its soil is a unique “kalksilikatmarmor,” a limestone silicate marble rarely found elsewhere in the Wachau. Bodenstein produces both an earlier-picked Federspiel and a later-picked Smaragd.
Austrian Riesling is often defined by elevated levels of dry extract thanks to a lengthy ripening period and freshness due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night.
Steinriegl’s uniquely cool microclimate results in wines of high aroma and focused acidity and its limestone soil provide compact structure and a flavor that is distinctive among Wachau Rieslings.Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table.
Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame some saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette might.
Pewsey Vale Vineyard the Contours Riesling Museum Reserve 2017 750ml
Expert Review — Vintage 2017
James Suckling 96 Points | Released after seven years in bottle. Delicate yet complex aromas of finger limes, grapefruit, kerosene, sage oil, preserved lemons, gun smoke and salted nuts. The palate is high tension, with an intense concentration of flavors coiled around a textural palate and striking acidity. Made from vines planted in 1965 — this has years of life ahead. Excellent. Drink or hold.
About The Contours Museum Reserve
Pewsey Vale’s The Contours is their flagship museum-release Riesling, sourced from the coolest south-facing slope of the estate in the high-altitude Eden Valley, South Australia. The vines were planted in 1965, making them among the oldest Riesling plantings in the region.
What makes this wine special: Pewsey Vale holds it in their cellars for five to seven years before release, so you receive a bottle that has already begun its transformation into a complex, aged masterpiece — no patience required on your end.
Tasting & Pairings
Finger lime, grapefruit, kerosene, sage oil, preserved lemon, gun smoke, and salted nuts. High-tension acidity with intense concentration and a textural, coiled palate. Serve well chilled.
- Kingfish crudo or oysters with lime mignonette — classic pairing for aged Riesling.
- Five-spice duck breast or tofu Pad Thai — the acidity balances spice and oil beautifully.