I looked at the K&L lots and there’s maybe 3 or 4 I would take a low ball flier on.
‘83 is a vintage with some noble rot, and a lot that was less than noble.
Then there’s the several producers that I wouldn’t touch with the Grinch-esque 39 and a half foot pole.
Grunhaus and Pauly Bergweiler and the Johannisberg are the only ones I recall being familiar with. I’m operating off memory here, so excuse any spelling mistakes. I’d take a flier on one of them, perhaps, but I’m not interested in those bigger lots.
Would you consider the Grunhauser with signs of past seepage? That would normally be a deal breaker for me, but it feels like I have bought a number of old rieslings with seepage over the years and they have all been fine.
The Grunhaus lots are the primary ones I might take a flier on. Seepage is a feature not a bug with German wines! 
I saw this wine at zachy’s for about $13 last year, and was intrigued enough to order a few bottles to try given the head-scratchingly low price. The wine is great: dry, plump and delicious, and I went back for about another 12 bottles until it sold out. I’ve also had success in pouring this for Riesling skeptics. This is a dream “daily drinker” imo.
Care to name names? 
Agreed, older German wines are pretty robust, I’ve opened lots of Grunhauser from the 80s with ugly looking labels (not all stored with Bowling Alley equipment, but some were) and seepage, sticky capsules and general nasty looking corks. The wines have been great. If I didn’t already have too much old German Riesling, I’d be all over those Grunhausers like a [insert idiom here].
I’ve had some wonderful '83 Zilliken Auslesen over the last few years (and out of half-bottles). What producers would you avoid?
I’ve never avoided a Riesling due to seepage (although, I tend to get Spatlese and up when buying mature bottles) and I’ve never regretted it.
Obscure producers.
Going to start a punk band called “Bad Botrytis” 
2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett “Kugel Peter” #12 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (10/29/2024)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 1.5 hrs. –
NOSE: moderate petrol; light lime, and a touch powdery.
BODY: medium-light to medium bodied; pale green-yellow color – pretty faint on the yellow.
TASTE: high acidity; lime, and some light gooseberry; crisp apple on the long finish; 8.5% alc. not noticeable; medium petrol; proper Kab.; really love this wine … excellent!
Here’s another recent auction purchase. 3 bottle lot. After vig., these bottles still cost a bit less than $40 each. With more than 20 years of age on them. Gotta love that.
2002 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Rheinhessen (10/29/2024)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 1.75 hrs. –
NOSE: baked apple jelly, with a touch of cinnamon — like an apple strudel, if you will; some honey; fairly light/tight at first, but it did slowly open over the course of nearly two hours.
BODY: medium-full bodied; rich amber color.
TASTE: medium+ acidity; fruit seems to be on its way out; juicy tangerine; very pleasant, and nowhere near dead, but I also don’t believe it will get any better from here. Drink Now and over the near term.
I prefer Falkenstein from somewhat richer vintages. A little less severe. This is quite nice in a 1990s Saar sort of way. 
Had the 2022 Keller RR at lunch before heading back home for the Rieslingfeier weekend. Love this wine. The dry extract, residual sugar (just above the legal limit), acid and fruit all work well together.
Another easy drinking, but ultimately boring, Kabinett from Markus Molitor. I line this one betfer than most - it has a racy character that is quite appealing - but it lacks complexity and personality. Certainly doesn’t taste of the Wurtzgarten. Does he only make good wine at the Auslese Level?
For me I’ve always thought Markus Molitor wines take a while to develop into the greatness that they are. His Kabinett and Spatlese even the Auslese and above at 10+ years really start singing. His Spatburgunder can take even longer before it really shows how great it is.
So it’s not just me!
I bought a bunch from 2016, 2017, and 2019. Totally underwhelming. The gold cap Spätlese wines from 2019 are good but unexciting.
I think 2019s are made for the long haul and would expect them to be in a somewhat awkward phase. Admittedly, I haven’t had a 2019 Riesling recently except for a Emrich-Schonleber BA on Saturday, which was not surprisingly way too young. Are you guys having really good experiences with 2019s lately?
The 2019 AJ Adam Goldtröpfchen Kabi was singing last time I tried one.
