2005 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Josephshöfer Riesling Kabinett

[TheEngineer]

DA, be honored to [img]http://wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] puttin my novice knowledge to work here..... let see..

The bad things about German wine is that:

(1) the vintage variations are as large as they are in Burgundy and Europe though in the last 1/2 decade, almost all grapes have come to ripeness when in the past they could vary based on weather. Of the recent vintages, I would look for in order, 2005, 2001 (though hard to find), 2004 (very focused), 2003 (very sweet and ripe), 2002. I would avoid the 2000s even if you can find them.

(2) the price starting in 2005 has gone higher up due to their success and I hate that.... so what use to be a ton of selection under $30 has gotten slightly smaller...but here it goes.

Also selecting Kabinetts which are generally a bit more crisp and acidic but still off-dry, will bring the wine prices into check.

(1) Dr. Loosen is a large reliable producer from the Mosel. He has a few lines of wine but the Dr. Loosen line with Wehlener Sonnenuhr ((VAY-len-er ZON-en-ooer), Ürziger Würzgarten (ERTS-ih-ger VERTS-gar-ten), Erdener Treppchen, Bernkasteler Lay (pronounced Lie) Kabinetts are generally all solid wines. He also makes a line called Blue Slate and Dr. L, neither of which I tried but in all fairness when the W.S. is only $24 and is great, very little incentive to go down!

(2) August Kesseler makes great Rieslings that are very site driven. I've tasted vineyards that were less than a 7 iron apart that were very different. He also makes a very austere Pinot Noir that Germans love. His line of "R" can often be found in the $10 under screwcap and is a solid quaffer.

(3) JJ Prum, only third because in general everything they have is $30+ but you can find a solid 2005 JJ Prum Riesling Kabinett that is very well made and retails for $24. It's kinda like buying Clerc Milon and getting a wine close to Mouton Rothschild.

(4) Donnhoff is generally very high on the German wine lover list but like Prum it is $$$ however, like Prum, it has a few wines that sneak in under $30, like the 2005 Donnhoff - Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett for $24. So if Loosen is solid, and Prum is high class, Donnhoff is compelling.

(5) I love Vollenweider, Wolfer Goldgrube but this one is hard to find. His kabinetts have this laser like precision. I never understood that term until I drank this wine. Love it and Love it. Most of his stuff can be found at the sub $30 level.

(6) Fritz Haag, yet another one like Prum and yet another Kabinett at the $24 level, 2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett, 2005.

(7) Studert Prum, on a vineyard separated from JJ Prum in a manner similar to the Leoville vineyard (?) for Poyferre, Barton, and Las Cases. The Wehlener Sonnerhur Riesling Spatlese and Kabinett are comfortably under $25 and $20 respectively and both are solid but they are not JJ Prum.

(8) Joh Jos Christoffel and their Erben Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese and Kabinett are great values and both are comfortably under $25 and $20 respectively.

(9)Von Hovel wines are a great bargain. Also from Mosel Saar and for their Ruwer Scharzhofberg Riesling Spatlese and kabinett bottles which are nervy confident wines that are comfortably under $20.

(10) Toni Jost for a just better than quaffer and just above a quaffer price generally around $15.

All of the above also have a nice minerally component to the wine that I love in German Rieslings. Also, may of the above make a trocken (or dry) version and they are also very nice and very round in texture. There are a large number of others that are in the high end and if you see them on sale, try them. They include Robert Weil, Diel, Haart, etc). The above list is also well represented in the US (with the exception of the Vollenweider but since I'm a fan...)

I hope this helps! Anyone that can comment on this list I would appreciate. WoW?

[This message has been edited by TheEngineer (edited 10-13-2007).]