What's your favourite Riesling, and why?

[djewesbury]

Just a small survey I'm carrying out. Feel free to post dealer info.

[DRT]

The only glass of Riesling that I can recall having was given to me by Dirk Niepoort at a dinner at Quinta de Napoles a few years ago. It was very nice. I have no idea what it was. It is my favourite Riesling so far.

[djewesbury]

The only glass of Riesling that I can recall having was given to me by Dirk Niepoort at a dinner at Quinta de Napoles a few years ago. It was very nice. I have no idea what it was. It is my favourite Riesling so far.

Funnily enough this question is prompted by being plied with Riesling by Dirk Niepoort at Quinta de Napoles last month, at lunch and again at dinner. There were a lot of visitors from the Mosel. I jokingly said to them, "you've come a long way to drink Riesling!" Dirk took it as typical wit and made a point of producing the port!

[DRT]

I jokingly said to them, "you've come a long way to drink Riesling!" Dirk took it as typical wit and made a point of producing the port!

Perhaps not the first time he had heard that joke?

[djewesbury]

I jokingly said to them, "you've come a long way to drink Riesling!" Dirk took it as typical wit and made a point of producing the port!

Perhaps not the first time he had heard that joke?

He said he liked me because I'm peaceful and not full of s**t. And producing the port he said that he was a little scared of me!
Anyway. Back to the question. Riesling, anyone?

[DRT]

He said he liked me because I'm peaceful and not full of s**t.

He's not seen you at 22:30 at The Bunghole then?

[djewesbury]

He said he liked me because I'm peaceful and not full of s**t.

He's not seen you at 22:30 at The Bunghole then?

No. He was there the night before.

[Glenn E.]

The one in my glass, provided it is an Auslese or sweeter, because it's available for me to drink.

[LGTrotter]

I like the aussie wines from the Clare Valley, more limes and quite intense, waitrose used to do some nice ones. I have always found the German wines just a bit weird and I am not fond of the taste of petrol.

This comes from a position of almost no knowledge, however this has never prevented me from offering an opinion.

[DRT]

This comes from a position of almost no knowledge, however this has never prevented me from offering an opinion.

You fit right in here.

[AW77]

My favourite Riesling is a Juliusspital Würzburger Stein Erste Lage (formerly known as Kabinett trocken):
https://www.weingut-juliusspital.de/ind ... uct_id=109
German Riesling is not only about the Mosel. Franconia (northern Bavaria) produces some good Rieslings as well.
One of the best producers in Franconia is the Juliusspital (literal translation: ‟hospital of Julius”) from Würzburg. The Juliusspital is a charity founded in 1576 by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn (1545-1617). Besides a hospital, an old-peoples home and a hospice, the Juliusspital has Germany’s second largest winery with 172 ha of vineyards. The most famous vineyard in Franconia is the Würzburger Stein (literal translation: ‟Würzburg stone”, that’s why the wines are also called ‟Steinwein” or ‟stone wine”). The Würzburger Stein is a vineyard that towers over the city of Würzburg (it’s rare that a vineyard is so close to a city). The terroir is chalky Muschelkalk (French: calcaire coquillier). The wine was labeled according to the new VDP-regulations as ‟Erste Lage” (the French equivalent would be ‟Premier Cru”). It ranges somewhere between a Kabinett and a Spätlese trocken.
It smells of yellow stone fruit, nectarine and peach mixed with a smoky minerality.
The bottle has the traditional shape used in Franconia. It’s name is ‟Bocksbeutel” there: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocksbeutel
There are special wine coolers for bocksbeutel:
https://www.weingut-juliusspital.de/ind ... uct_id=134
I really can recommend those for the bocksbeutel bottles.

I really love Riesling as a white wine. That's probably because I was raised on Riesling as my parents drank only Nahe Riesling. In the summer it's still only Riesling for me. I still measure every white wine according to whether it comes close to Riesling.

PS: As as a second bottle (after you opened the "serious" Riesling) I can recommend the Grans-Fassian Cuvée No. 9 Riesling. That's an off-dry Riesling with quite a lot acidity from a VDP-Producer. As it only has 9,5 % Alc. it's the perfect wine for the second bottle. It's really a fun wine to drink and sometimes I really look forward to the second bottle even before opening the first.
Here are the details:
http://grans-fassian.de/en/weine/2011-cuvee-9-riesling/
http://www.koelner-weinkeller.de/index. ... duct=18482

Best wishes from Cologne
Andre

[djewesbury]

An excellent answer. Thanks André, I look forward to trying these at some point!

[AW77]

To anyone interested in German wine I can recommend the Kölner Weinkeller:

http://www.koelner-weinkeller.de

They have a broad range of German VDP-producers and also have very good shipping rates:

http://www.koelner-weinkeller.de/index.php?id=versand

If you buy for more than 160 Euro, it costs 11,60 Euro to ship 18 bottles to the UK. (if you buy for less than 160 Euro it costs 16,90 Euro to ship 18 bottles to the UK).

The Kölner Weinkeller is my favourite for wine here in Cologne. A broad range of wines and fair prices. And it's always quite an experience to shop there because it's a huge vault 13 meters deep underground. Here are some pictures:

http://www.google.de/imgres?sa=X&biw=16 ... x=99&ty=85

It was built in the late 1930ies. Some people say that it was intended as an airraid-shelter. But storing conditions there are excellent. They were recently voted "Wine merchant of the year" here in Germany.

[RAYC]

Courtesy of recommendations from Wolfgang, i have had very good luck with spaetleses from Schlossgut Diel (Burburg / Goldloch / Dorsheimer).

I've also demolished a half case of this with alarming ease and will be re-ordering...

[djewesbury]

All of this is very helpful, some great recommendations that I look forward to trying. Thanks.

[Michael H]

I like Alsatian Rieslings. Typically they are dry, brightly crisp, and go well with food I like to cook and eat.