Which Riesling are you drinking?

I would be up for that. I have several hundred bottles. Lets coordinate on a date.

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This would be another fairly accurate description of the off-note I was referring to earlier. In fact, I refer to it as the Life Saver note. If it is, it’s not producer specific. Whatever it is, it is very unpleasant and hard to get over once you taste it (in a bottle).

Edit: Some producers definitely have the note more than others…

Life Savers and Sweet Tarts are very different.

Are they?

I don’t think it’s coincidence we both thought of a weird-flavored candy, but okay.

They are very different. Neither is weird, just old. I suspect I am older than you by a bit.

By weird-flavored, I meant we both thought of a candy that didn’t taste the way it should. I.E., for me, an old oak-flavored Life Saver. For you, a dirty Sweet Tart.

Regardless, I don’t think these off-notes are producer specific, but maybe it occurs with some producers more than others (my experience).

2020 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken “Mutter Anna” #1 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (11/12/2025)
– decanted 1.25 hrs before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over 3.5 hrs –

NOSE: medium petrol; lightly tangy; green grapes with a hint of purple grape soda.

BODY: very light pale yellow color; no spritz; light bodied.

TASTE: bone dry; high acid; minerally lemon; tangy; 10% alc. is hidden. This has substantial presence, despite being quite light on its feet. I like it, and see this as best to drink over the near term.

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Thanks for your tasting note. One drawback with decanting is that any residual carbon dioxide will be removed. Two years ago, we did a vertical of Mutter Anna in Chicago. David Schildknecht brought most of the bottles to this event. The wines showed really well with bottle age.

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I have a question for all the Riesling drinkers in here now that Berserker Day is coming up.
Weingut Dreissigacker from Rheinhessen just dropped their SELECTED single vineyard Riesling wines, vintage 2015. Jochen Dreissigacker stores the wines at the winery and releases them based on maturity.
Wines origin and authenticity is proven by an authentication app. The wines are rare and very limited. The vineyards are GG Grosse Lage/Grosse Gewaechs vineyards.

Dreissigacker Geyersberg Riesling 2015 (RP 95) from the village of Bechtheim $500 (500EUR in Germany)
Dreissigacker Rosengarten Riesling 2015 (RP 93+) from the village of Bechtheim $380 (380EUR in Germany)
Dreissigacker Kirchspiel Riesling 2015 (RP92) from the village of Westhoven (famous Keller vineyard) $420 (420EUR in Germany)

If this is interesting to anyone, I could start a new topic and write more about the single vineyards and wines.
Let me know :slight_smile:

No offense Lisa but those prices are insane. The extended aged 2015 Gut Hermannsberg Kupfergrube GG Reserve which scored 100 points from Vinous (not crazy Stuart Pigott scores) that was released this year was $160 at Fass Selections. Just trying to give you some honest feedback.

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Can walk into the Rieslinghaus and get aged JJ Prum for $50 EUR or other wineries, have to be there to get it but its there for the taking. I think this is a rough market for high priced wines.

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I don’t make the prices so I’m not offended at all. I am just curious and wanted to get some input

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I assumed they were case prices. @LisaT is it per bottle or per case?

A few from last year

2004 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (1/9/2026)
Owned since release, stored well, but I’ve had it at home to drink for a year or two, not in 55 degree storage. Fair amount of burnished copper color, a nicely aged, slightly savory nose, then plenty of nice, lush fruit, good acidity, a hint of nice tartness, some of that savory character, has some oily density, almost feels like an aperitif, but it’s bone dry. More and more complexity and depths emerges with air. Would be a wonderful thanksgiving dinner wine. A lovely, well aged, very tasty riesling.

Now looking at previous notes, pretty sure Andy and Yule’s notes are from my bottle a year ago. They are more diligent at wine dinners than I lol. (94 points)

2023 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (1/7/2026)
Crystalline medium light hay color, classic alzinger nose, hint of fruit, hint of savory, hint of sea, then wow, so much flavor and complexity packed into a taut, streamlined package, a melange of savory, salty, minerally deliciousness. (94 points)

2009 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (12/28/2025)
Some moderate bronze color, shows a bit of oxidation, roasted almond on the nose, palate still has some nice freshness, with reserved fruit, savory, slightly nutty, this particular bottles is on the downside of its peak, but very enjoyable. (90 points)

2005 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (8/6/2025)
Moderate light honey color, beautifully savory, slightly herbal nose, then a rich, intense palate, plenty of acidity, more of the savory, umami, with a steely mineral razor edge on the finish, well developed but years of life ahead if you have more, which sadly I don’t. (94 points)

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Nice work. 2023 and 2005 sound particularly good. Had the 11 and 12 a few weeks ago with some board members. Mixed views among different drinkers, but I preferred the elegance of the 11, the 12 seemed like it might have needed more time to resolve its weight. But wasn’t the most analytical setting…

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With all respect for all involved parties, I hold it for a marketing gag. Dreissigacker has never ranked among top German (or Rheinhessen) producers. But they are certainly good at moving their wine in volume. I had their Riesling 2-3 times. Serviceable restaurant wines, not more, not less.
I cannot imagine that they sell at those prices. Unless NFT collectors step in, that is .

These are bottle prices for the rare releases… I know how high these prices seem steep compared to the established VDP wineries around, which is why I am asking for feedback. The other wines range from high $30 to $110.

@MaciejK Not sure know how many of these they sell. I don’t agree with Dreissigacker wines being serviceable restaurant wines only. Just like most winery they have wines at lower price points for restaurants. Wine, price and value is always an interesting conversation to have. I would love to show you the Bechtheim Riesling.

I’m going to taste Dreissigacker and Keller blind with a few sommeliers next month here in California and will report back if you’re interested. I am German, so I will be very honest about it! : ) I haven’t had much Keller but I love the ones I had.

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I don’t know Alzinger but they sound great! Thank you for sharing

I don’t personally have an opinion on whether those prices are great, or terrible, or somewhere in between; I simply don’t spend that kind of money on Riesling. (1). It’s not necessary, given the plethora of truly world-class Rieslings available for less (often, significantly less); and (2). I rarely spend that kind of money on any wine. As such, for me, it’s not interesting.

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I’m in Europe Lisa and while I haven’t tried their wines it seems crazy high when comparing to other more well known world class wines (and Riesling) from the most renowned producers. If it’s all in the aging then it’s a high tariff per year. Even some of the greatest top producers are discounted off by retailers 2-4 years after the vintage.

Some of my favorites are sold for less than 1/20 of those prices. If you have clients for the wines go ahead but personally I wouldn’t even consider it.

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