Your Top German Riesling Vintages ?

[adam_caldwell]

Love all the discussion and info, thank you to all for participating and contributing.

[J_Rock]

I’m still figuring everything out and don’t have nearly as much experience as most on this board, but my favorites, in approximate order, are something like; 2005, 2015, and then it’s a toss up between 2007 and 2001 depending on my mood. I haven’t had enough Rieslings in pre-2001 vintages to have much of an opinion on those.

[Robert_Dentice]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

[A_Gillette]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

2018. Feel like I’m already long the vintage and might not love it. I’ve got enough.

[Nicos_Neocleous]

1971. Amazing year.

You are biased when it comes to 1971.

Biased and blessed.

[Nicos_Neocleous]

1971 - this forever … even simple wines are excellent!

[Nicos_Neocleous]

1971. Amazing year.

You are biased when it comes to 1971.

Nicos is correct when he says 1971. And, I rarely agree with Nicos. Is Nicos vintage 1971?

[Nicos_Neocleous]

I have a question from a novice for the more experienced Riesling fanatics. I will preface my question by saying that vintage charts and a number of reviews cannot be trusted. Also, I personally tend to drink a vast majority for the Mosel area, but like all areas.

My question is that I have seen a lot of love in my “studies” for both the 2001 and 2005 vintages (and the 2009 vintage to a lesser extent) especially in the higher pradikat levels. Are these vintages too ripe/fruit forward for a lot of people’s taste and for long term cellaring?

I have noticed a lot of love on here for the more acidic vintages which allow for a bit more long term enjoyment. However, I was wondering if the 2001, 2005, and 2009 vintages fall into the “good/great vintage” category that just lack a bit of acidity. I have seen some love for 2001 above, but not much on 05 and 09.

I have done a lot of research, but haven’t had enough personal experience yet to really have enough data/experience to really have a strong personal preference yet. In the end, it will really come down to my personal preference and I know it really depends on the producer and area. However, I love to hear from people on here who’s expertise and experience I very much respect. This thread is great for someone like myself to learn from individuals with more experience. Thank you for everyone who has posted.

2001 is a marvelous vintage. Best in my drinking lifetime. It’s strongest in the Mosel, but still excellent elsewhere. 2001 is in now way a “too ripe” year. It’s the best balanced vintage in my experience. 2005 is also excellent, but richer and lower in acidity than 2001. I prefer 2001 by a pretty wide margin, but never turn down a 2005.

2001 QbA/Estate Rieslings and Kabinetts are really singing now. Spatlese is also showing very well. I think Auslese is still a little young.

I have to disagree with you on 2001’s being still a little too young. The 2001 JJ Prum WS Auslese has been drinking superbly for at least 3 years, and I have drunk about 6 bottles from different cases sourced in the UK. Tonight I drank a Bollig Lehnert Piesporter Goldtropfchen Auslese *** that opened up so well over 1 hour. I have drunk 3 of these in the past 18 months.

[James_Wright]

German Riesling is such a distinctive animal – almost as much as Burgundy dependent on the grower

the last Perfect wine i tasted was the 2002 Kiedricher Sandgrube Spätlese from Weingut R Weil –
– i had showed up for an appt along w/ old pal Schildknecht,
had the whole show laid out and Welcome! before us
the reason i know the Spätlese was perfect,
was because i could still taste it
after tasting the Auslese, the Beerenauslese, the Trockenbeerenauslese and the Eiswein

[David_Bu3ker]

I have to disagree with you on 2001’s being still a little too young. The 2001 JJ Prum WS Auslese has been drinking superbly for at least 3 years, and I have drunk about 6 bottles from different cases sourced in the UK. Tonight I drank a Bollig Lehnert Piesporter Goldtropfchen Auslese *** that opened up so well over 1 hour. I have drunk 3 of these in the past 18 months.

You have always liked the wines a little younger than I do. That’s OK!

[Robert_Dentice]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

2018. Feel like I’m already long the vintage and might not love it. I’ve got enough.

So you would turn down 2018 G-Max at $500? Not sure who you favorite producer is.

[David_Bu3ker]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

2018. Feel like I’m already long the vintage and might not love it. I’ve got enough.

So you would turn down 2018 G-Max at $500? Not sure who you favorite producer is.

Given the ability to pick any bottle, I think I could find a way to get by with Dönnhoff.

[G_Curd]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

Honestly I don’t think I would pass on any of them. I haven’t tasted them all so from my point of view I would love to gain some more knowledge and perspective. I know that wasn’t the point of the question, but that is how I thought about it.

[Robert_Dentice]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

Honestly I don’t think I would pass on any of them. I haven’t tasted them all so from my point of view I would love to gain some more knowledge and perspective. I know that wasn’t the point of the question, but that is how I thought about it.

That was my point. There is not a single vintage since 2001 that I would pass up trying a well stored bottle from my favorite producers.

[Jayson_Cohen]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

Too hypothetical? Is only that one vintage being offered?

I can name at least vintages in MSR for Pradikat wines with let’s say discernible RS (so broadly distinguishing from trocken) I might pass based on personal taste: 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018. I didn’t put 2003 because of my curiousity based on reports and that I have literally zero in the cellar. And I may have misjudged 2016 young, which I almost put on the list, because a lot of them showed a lot of baby fat, leading me to be skeptical and buy sparingly.

If I were considering dry wines, I admit I don’t have the experience to make that call in advance. And if K-P offered me Abtserde at ex-cellar price of any vintage, I’m not going to say no.

[maureen_nelson]

1997 took some time, but when it came around it really came around.

It’s fantastic.

Yeah, but at this point I only own zilliken and prum and not much of either.

[maureen_nelson]

2001 and 2012 are my favorites in the last 20 years, as a general statement. There is a lot to love in numerous other vintages, but those two really resonate with me.

If limiting to the past 20 i will agree. Also like 2008s.

[A_Gillette]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

2018. Feel like I’m already long the vintage and might not love it. I’ve got enough.

So you would turn down 2018 G-Max at $500? Not sure who you favorite producer is.

There’s lots of 2018 Keller schubertslay kabi and auction pettenthal available at the clearing price that I’m not buying.
A

[J_Rock]

Has anyone had any Rieslings from… 1966? I recently picked up a bottle of 1966 Peter Nicolay Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Goldwingert TBA because I’ve never had a Riesling this old and few older than 1990, and the bottle was cheap (so I’m not expecting much). Any insights on the vintage or how this TBA miiiight be holding up (or not) would be appreciated.

[G_Curd]

I have a slightly different but relevant question. If you had a chance to buy any bottle from your favorite German producer direct from the domain at release price - is there any vintage post 2001 you would pass on?

Honestly I don’t think I would pass on any of them. I haven’t tasted them all so from my point of view I would love to gain some more knowledge and perspective. I know that wasn’t the point of the question, but that is how I thought about it.

That was my point. There is not a single vintage since 2001 that I would pass up trying a well stored bottle from my favorite producers.

I think I confused myself . I totally agree Robert. I wouldn’t pass on a single one.