Just back from a pretty fast paced weekend traveling around Germany with visits to Max Ferd Richter, Markus Molitor, Gunther Steinmetz, Martin Mullen and Donnhoff. Thanks to all those who previously posted about the region, I leaned heavily on some previous posts here which were immensely helpful in planning the trip. Some of my notes are more complete than others, and apologies up front for any errors I may have made in transcribing my notes, hopefully they’re helpful.
– Day 1 –
I arrived in Germany on an overnight flight and had a loose plan to see if I could fit in a tasting before I checked into my hotel in Zeltingen-Rachtig. Max Ferd looked to be open so I set out in that direction arriving at around 11am.
A light was on upstairs but there was no one around and the place seemed otherwise deserted. I knocked on a door but no one seemed to hear. Just as i was about to leave a car pulled up, and out jumper Constantin Richter who assured me yes they were open. Inside, Dr Richter showed me to their tasting room, a simple table with a green tablecloth in a side room on the second floor of the house. I must have been a confusing sight showing up as i did, a red eyed American in a Red Sox hat on no sleep but still looking for a tasting well before noon, but he was very welcoming and we tasted through many of their 24s with a few verticals mixed in. Due to the lack of sleep sharing the highlights only:
2024 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Uralte Reben Grosses Gewachs
from vines planted in 1890s light and bright, both floral yet powerful at only 11% alcohol 92
2024 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese
Candied nose, very racy acid on the palate, but more integrated with more fruit than the 21 we tasted side by side. 91+
2024 Veldenzer Elisenberg Spatlese
A monopole planted on quartz cooler climate planted in 1815 by his great great great grandffather. This is a standout which will be great in the coming years. 93
After this I checked into the hotel and caught up on sleep until dinner. I had purposely stayed close to Zeltinger Hof where I had two great meals and some exceptional wines, and brought back a birth year bottle. The first night I took a flyer for 40 Euros on a 1976 spatlese from the Rheinhessen which went great with a venison burger.
– Day 2 –
Markus Molitor is one of my favorite producers and one of the few places open on Sunday so I had lined this tasting up well in advance. The tasting room is very sleek with a long table located in a historic building adjacent to the winery. Riesling the dog pictured below greets every visitor, and they were very generous with their time and tailored the tasting to my interests. Over three hours we tasted through more than a dozen wines.
Pinot Noir
2022 Haus Klosterberg
A blend of multiple vineyards from mosel valley
9 months on used oak, 22 was a good pinot year. Warm vintage cool nights.
Med ruby, nice rose hips and cranberries, high acidity low alcohol, intense raspberry fruit forward, spicy, tannic, maybe will mellow with some time. Calls for food. 87
2018 Graacher Himmelreich***
Blue slate 24 months in new oak
subtle nose, Med acid med alcohol high tannin has the stuff to go very long, crannberries and cherries, fruit forward still needs time but immense potential 91+
2015 Brauneberger Klostergarten**
Very pronounced nose of orange peel and earth
Palate very acidic very tannic but much more integrated, light and bright, 92+ but not ready
Riesling White Capsules (Dry)
2024 Wehlener Klosterberg Kabinett
Super pronouncedd lychee nose
Very High acidity, slate and lemon, some green notes long finish 91
2012 Wehlener Klosterberg Kabinett
Honey and almonds on the nose. Much drier on the palate but still has intense acidiy
Really cool to see these 12 years apart and how the nose and palate changes. 91+
The 2012 this is more complex and comes across as far more dry.
2020 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese
Med acid med alcohol peach and lychee, long finish 90.
2020 Saarburger Rausch Spatlese
Saar is further south more acidity more mineral driven / growing on red slate
Pale straw, Typical chalky some gunpowder on the nose
Palate med acid low alcohol peaches 90+
2017 Kinheimer Hubertuslay Weisse Kapsel Riesling Auslese***
Powerful dynamic knockout. 94
2020 kinheimer hubertslay auslese**
Complex though not to the level of the 17
Green Capsules (Off-dry)
2018 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese*
Reductive green apple on the nose
Palate more green apple, fairly simple 91
Gold Capsules (Sweet)
2003 Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*
Old vines, some 120+ yrs and ungrafted.
Citrus and mild honey, med acid, so mellow. 92
2021 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese*
Needs time to gain complexity.
2005 Zeltinger Deutschherrenberg Riesling Auslese* - Edition 18
East facing, high iron site.
Deep gold, Dill and orange peel on the nose, very sweet perhaps a bit lacking in acidity. Caramel, very long finish. 93+
Will post the second half of my trip notes when I have time to write them up.
