Lately I’ve been skewing toward much lower alc wines and with summer, Riesling is particularly refreshing.
I’ve had a number of the widely available producers (Prum, Dönnhoff, Zind-Humbrecht, Trimbach, etc) but don’t cellar much at all. Thinking back to a 1976 Prum had years ago I’m planning to buy a lot more Riesling for daily drinking and both mid to long-term cellaring.
If you were to construct a case or two composed of mid-tier, big guns, and daily drinkers what would it look like? What are current under the radar good values? Preferably both German and French.
My advice would be to order a case of 2012s wines from the Mosel. Excellent vintage, still open and somewhat available. The Mosel is also quite diverse so you will still get a range of styles.
Get a mixed case of styles and producers.
For styles look for the following:
Trocken*
Grosses Gewachs (the most expensive but worth trying a couple)
Halbtrocken
Feinberg
Kabinett
Spatlese (I would skip Auslese and higher until you see what you like because they are more expensive and sometimes difficult to drink young)
*You can find Kabinett and Spatlese Trockens.
You could easily do this through Crush or Chambers.
If you want to stay local give me a couple of stores and I can make suggestions.
I think this is an excellent time to go very deep as the 2012 German vintage - on the shelves now - is spectacular. Perhaps especially in the Mosel. Selbach-Oster killed it. Their Zelt Schloss Kab is amazing at about $22, and their Zelt Sonn “Ur Alte Reben” feinherb phenomenal for $26. World-class wines both. Also love the Merkelbach '12s. Really just a ton of great wines on the shelves from this vintage now and I suspect you’ll get a lot of recommendations.
I have to tell you though I’m very tempted to keep all of this as quiet as possible, as these wines are among the most underappreciated - read “underpriced”! - in the world. Really hope the confusing nomenclature and generalized fear of RS keeps the masses away!
Robert-- I do enjoy Auslese and really the whole range of the ripeness spectrum. I think my issue is more producer selection, as I’m not familiar with many under the radar/ value producers. The best I’ve had was that 76 Prum I mentioned, which was an Auslese. I prefer west coast retailers (being in Los Angeles) but do order sometimes from Wine Library, etc. I know Crush is good but the shipping does add up from a few of those east coast retailers.
Richard – Thanks, I’ll check both those producers. Agreed Riesling is surely one of the last bastions of QPR.
Ok David lets see what you come up with at two stores located in LA?
Admittedly I have not had all of these wines I was just trying to put together a fun case to try that someone could pick up at two stores that are 5 minutes apart and was not too pricey.
Is that a comparison and comment vs Prum or other producers? In any event, I know we’ve had this discussion many times but your money point doesn’t really hold true over here.
Thanks Robert. I was actually near K&L yesterday and picked up a few bottles before I saw this post, including the 2012 Selbach Alte Reben. Really great bottle! Definitely something I’m going to buy more of. I’ll check out those other producers. DomaineLA is also a good shop which often has things you won’t see elsewhere in LA. I have bought Levet and some PYCM from there.
I have had each of the wines that are at DomainLA accept the 12 Knebel and all are very good. Tasted the Lauer several times including at the Domain, the WK at the domain and the Immich at the Chambers/Dressner tasting and in the Mosel with Gernot so I feel pretty confident about those choices.
I’m not familiar enough with German wines to give you an idea of whether that comports to a “classic” level of sweetness for a Kab, or closer to a traditional Auslese, etc., so I think Terry’s scale will be much more useful for you than anything I might come up with. The Zelt Schloss Kab is certainly sweeter than the S-O Zelt Sonn Ur Alte Reben which is designated a feinherb by the producer, given an SOS:0 by TT, and also has noticeable (but lesser) RS.
If you’re looking for utterly dry, look elsewhere!
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