- 2023 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb "Meyer Nepal" #11 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (9/29/2024)
Reading the notes on past vintages of this wine reveal a constant trend in two aspects, 1). This is a great wine. 2). This feinherb is an x / y axis intersection between troken and a pradikat. The 23 version is clear bulls eye on both accounts. It does have some sweetness, but its more felt more in palate density than actually tasted, almost Alsatian like, but with greater buoyancy than one typically sees from Alsace. Tremendous material here, but it needs a few years to settle in. Happy purchase.
Posted from CellarTracker
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Thanks for the note - sounds excellent. The Spätlese feinherbs are the Falkenstein sweet spot (no pun intended) for me. They are consistently brilliant. But if you haven’t tried their ‘regular’ Spätlese - they make Klaus in most (every?) vintages - hunt one down. Yes it’s a bit sweeter, but these somehow combine full bodied richness with delicacy and ripping finishes.
I haven’t received 2023s yet but I’m looking forward to them. Happily working on my 2022s while I wait. 2022 Mia (a Kabinett) was lovely last night.
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Thanks Richard, I’ll be on the lookout for the Klaus Spat!
To add a comment about the Falkenstein Auslese (often labeled as Forster, but sometimes made from other fuders/vineyards): Also intriguing and delicious. Legally Auslese, no question, but more like a full bodied slightly sweeter Spätlese. Or something.
I can’t really think of a comparable wine from another producer, but many folks here are far more experienced Riesling drinkers than me. No Forster that I’ve opened is like a typical classic Mosel Auslese (I.e. syrupy, very sweet), instead lighter and also … denser somehow. Falkenstein just makes a wonderful, unique set of wines. If you like them it’s worth exploring the entire range because none of them will match your expectations if you’ve been drinking classic Mosel/Saar Rieslings.
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Yesterday, we picked a few parcels in Niedermenniger Sonnenberg and Krettnacher Euchariusberg.
That’s true. The Spätlese wines from Krettnacher Euchariusberg have higher residual sugar than the Spätlese feinherb wines from Niedermenniger Herrenberg.
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Most likely, Förster will be a Spätlese this year. We will resume picking grapes on Thursday. So far, ripeness levels, measured in degrees Oechsle, have been in the low 80s. For grape growers or producers who don’t keep yields low by pruning short, the Oechsle levels are much lower.