That’s not how my brain works. Scents influence me, but visually rarely do so.
We had a spicy Thai curry the other night. My wife asked for an Auslese. I opened a Rheinhessen Spätlese that had more than enough oomph to get the job done.
Ah, naturally.
p.s. I barely spent any time in Graach. Was mostly in Zeltingen, Urzig, Traben-Trarbach, Leiwen and Piesport. Then off to the Nahe, Rheinhau and Rheinhessen.
That’s cool. There’s a lot of great places in the valley! Graach towards Bernkastel-Kues is rather touristy so probably better to stay west of you only have a limited time. But to me the wines down that direction tasted greener with a chalkier minerality. Not my favs. One of my least favorite wines of the whole trip was Brauneberger Juffer which is supposed to be a great site.
That’s a rather broad characterization. What did you taste?
Sure but Mosel is all about the soil and air to me. A few Prum GH, Spätlese and Auslese. Also the Thanisch Graacher Domprobst which is highly acclaimed, but I wasn’t particularly fond of. Splitting hairs for sure as I enjoy most Mosel Rieslings, but the best to me were more towards the middle, WS, Zeltinger S/H, Erdener Treppchen/Pralat, Urziger Wurzgarten.
I don’t think of Thanisch as a yardstick for any vineyard except Doctor and there one has always wondered what another grower would do (until Thomas Haag started doing it?).
I’d put the Schaefer Domprobst next to any wine in the MSR. Always among the best at Kab, Spat, and Aus for at least a couple decades now. But I don’t know if one could say it smells of Graach the town or its air and vineyards.
The soils are critical, as is weather (a broder interpretation of “air” perhaps), exposure, and any number of other factors. The classic stretch of the “middle Mosel” may be your favorite, but it’s not at all the complete picture of the Mosel (forgetting the egregious error they made when they changed it from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer to just Mosel, thereby obscuring some critical differences). There are amazing sites and producers working down towards Leiwen, and up towards Traben.
Honestly can’t recall any high acclaim for a Thanisch Domprobst wine. They don’t come to mind at all for that site. As Jayson mentioned, Schaefer is the standard bearer for that site.
Ah you’re right, thank you for correcting me! I was thinking of the Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor. The Domprobst I wasn’t in love with was Selbach-Oster as well as another producer whose name is escaping me right now.
Interesting. I love what Selbach is doing in the Domprobst now. Wasn’t so thrilled with their Graach wines in the early 2000s, but since about 2009 they have been on fire. Their Alte Reben Feinherb from Domprobst is amazing.
Well, he isn’t charging for the tariffs now. Waiting to see if he has to pay them.