Interesting. I have never had a DIAM5 “failure” even with bottles 15 years old.
Obviously you don’t know which DIAM is in the bottle until you open it.
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Anyone going to this at Müllen? @Robert_Dentice
I wish I could but don’t think I can make it.
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2024 AJ Adam, Ohligsberg Kabinett
This is my favourite Kabinett of 2024, precisely because it’s so distinctive. The nose is immediately striking, with a powerful smoky cream and cassis character that carries through onto the palate. It’s an exaggerated, almost extreme expression of a note that can appear in Kabinett, and that’s what makes it so compelling. As the wine opens up, red apple notes begin to weave in with the cassis, and there is a lovely tang right at the end of the profile which pulls you back for more.
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I wish. If someone has an in on such events, or where to find out about them, during the first week of July, I’d love to know. I don’t speak German but can pick up the gist (and understand the limitations of merely getting the gist).
The VDP website has an events page, and the local Mosel tourist board websites are usually reliable for listing dates of wine festivals. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be many events happening in the first week of July this year. The second weekend of July hosts the Traben-Trarbach festival, though it’s not considered one of the top festivals in the region.
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I’ll make a point of checking in with the VDP website—thanks for the tip. I know the dates aren’t the best for events. When we went to Lisbon a few years ago, at about the same time of year, we learned by chance about a rare d’Oliveiras event which embarked us on a significant shift in our wine journey. So I’ve learned to keep an eye out.
Yeah same. March is already a busy travel month for me. I’ll get back out there, just don’t know when yet.
I recently had a half bottle Hugel 2014 Grosse Laue with a DIAM and it was corked. The Sommelier at the restaurant showed it to us because he was so surprised. That was the first time I experienced that too. I need to check my camera roll if it was a DIAM5, I probably have a photo of the cork somewhere.
I wonder why they use DIAM5 with so many options being out there.
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2010 Schäfer-Fröhlich „Bockenauer Felseneck“ Riesling Spätlese
This Spätlese is floating „schwebt“ over your palate with 7,5% incl. balance, clarity and finesse. What a seductive&sublime fruitsweetness and the once heavy acidity is perfectly integrated and still provides freshness. Loooong finish. Clearly reached the climax and with good years ahead.
Often overlooked in Germany, but Tim Fröhlich makes also great off-dry Riesling from FELSENECK, as the 2015 Kabinett is great too.
I am remembering when the 2010s were released and some journalists&tasters had stomach problems with the ultra-high acidity of the cool-climate vintage 2010. For me, heaven! 
„The VDP.GROSSE LAGE® FELSENECK is located in the Ellerbach River basin, a side valley of the upper Nahe. The vineyard faces due south and it rises a steep slope with 35-70 percent gradient from 250 to 310 metres a.s.l. up to a high forested plateau that protects it from cold fall winds. The soils are quite diverse and are dominated by Upper Rotliegend (Waderner Schichten Formation). Devon slate, quartzite, and basalt rubble are also found. The rocky soils are easily warmed and well-drained. The slope has easy access to light and warmth from the sun, which is advantageous for its macroclimate.“ VDP
96/100
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P.S.
nothing changed or no decline on Day 2 regarding the 2010 Felseneck Spätlese, so many good years ahead for this Riesling in the cellar.
Interestingly, I found a german TN from an old friend, as he had this Spätlese last november and was thrilled too. The most interesting part was that he tasted this Riesling in 2013, 2018, 2019, but couldn`t understand why this Spätlese was such highly regarded at release. His assessment 88-89/100.
Now he knows…….
23.11.2025. Goldgelb, in der Nase geschmorte Ananas und Dosenpfirsich. Am Gaumen reife Ananas und Dosenpfirsich plus ein Hauch Grapefruit. Kein Traubenzucker mehr. Sehr schöne, gut eingebundene Säure, feine Phenolik. Der Wein bespielt den ganzen Mund und hat einen ewig langen Abgang. Gestern, direkt nach dem Öffnen, wirkte der Wein noch ein wenig unrund, mit Luftkontakt über Nacht hat er sich noch mal verbessert, und ist jetzt eine echte Schönheit. 95/100
„Golden yellow, with aromas of stewed pineapple and canned peach. On the palate, ripe pineapple and canned peach plus a hint of grapefruit. No trace of grape sugar remains. Very nice, well-integrated acidity, fine phenolics. The wine fills the entire mouth and has an incredibly long finish. Yesterday, immediately after opening, the wine seemed a little unbalanced, but with overnight exposure to air, it has improved and is now a true beauty.“ 95/100
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Thanks for this, Martin. 2010 might be my favorite vintage of the century. Only way it’s not is if it doesn’t have the staying power of 2001.
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Back on my Falkenstein kick after acquiring a couple cases. Notes from CT:
“My first Ternes, some weight and viscosity to this Spatlese, at least relative to other Falkenstein iterations like Klaus. Though it is not cloying and still feels somewhere in between a Kabinett and a Spatlese. It feels balanced with a healthy dose of acidity, but not as racy as some Falkensteins tend to be in their youth. Flavors of candied lemon rind/citrus, salty sea shells and slate. While it is a lovely wine, my preference is still for either Klaus or the Kabinetts.”
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Ternes, when vinified and bottled on its own, tends to be very racy. I think it was the ripe vintage.
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First look for me on the 2024 Falkenstein vintage. So far so good! CT notes below:
“Now we are talking! Followed over two days and delivered on both occasions. Freshly zested lemon/lime, crunchy green apple, stone fruits, minerality, racy acidity (like a 911 at red line). Nice depth and concentration. Another terrific vintage of Kugel Peter!”
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I attended the Vom Boden Lauer dinner last evening at the Temple of Riesling Noreetuh. WOW! The 2024s are outstanding. Crystalline, ethereal, pure Saar magic. It was almost impossible to spit…
Stephen also put up the Lauer immersion video on the Vom Boden website:
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Thanks for your tasting note. I’m pleased you enjoyed it. As I’ve mentioned before, Kugel Peter is a specific parcel of old vines that adjoins Gisela. Not only that—Kugel Peter is, in terms of location, the better vineyard on the south-facing slope in Euchariusberg and reminds me of Mia in Bockstein. Both have a steep rise at the top. While Kugel Peter gets good reviews year after year, Falkenstein fans all seem to chase after Gisela.
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Thanks for the background Lars. My favorite wines in most vintages are Kugel Peter and Mia, so it is cool to know there are perhaps tertiary reasons for that. My highest rated falkenstein of recent vintages has been the 2021 Kugel Peter. That being over both the 2022 and 2023 Gisela.
For the price I’m able to get Kugel Peter in the New York metro area compared to Gisela (2x), Kugel Peter is the easy choice. Though maybe that changes now that the secret is out.
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My pleasure, Joe. I agree. The 2021 Kugel Peter is one of the best. We’re also very excited about the 2025.
Gisela tends to be a bit sharper, tighter, nervier, and livelier than Kugel Peter. The quality of Kugel Peter is no secret; the latest Vinum wine guide for Germany rated the 2024 among the top five Kabinetts of the vintage. Gisela won first place. Vinum has placed Kugel Peter in the top ten over the past decade and even rated it the second-best Kabinett in the 2017 vintage. As you probably already know, Mosel Fine Wines has consistently given Kugel Peter high marks since the first vintage in 2015.
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2018 Weingut Keller Riesling von der Fels
Classic vdF with all these limestone, lemon, herb flavors. Surprisingly quite lean&focused and energetic on the palate incl. a refreshing acidity for such a warm vintage. It´s a pleasure to drink now, if you like vibrating Rieslings. But I recommend to wait another 3-5 years.
12% alcohol, 4 g/l residual sugar and 9,1 g/l acidity
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