Winemaker: Johannes Selbach
Grape: Riesling
Region: Mosel-Saar Rüwer, Germany
Don’t get discouraged with a difficult German labels (well, they are not difficult for them to understand) because the Riesling grape grown in Germany is the best in the world. Add a lot of hard work and an experience of Selbach family, owning their vineyards since 1660, great potential in old ungrafted vines, and you have a recipe for the success.
Let me brake the label down to make it easier:
Selbach-Oster is the name of the producer
Zeltinger – stands from the town it came from (it would translate from the town of Zeltingen)
Sonnenuhr – is the name of the river (Wehlener Sonnenuhr) that frames this very steep vineyard, going down to water surface of the Mosel River.
Spätlese – marks the level of the sweetness the grape had during the harvest.
Selbach family grows their Riesling (and a little bit of Pinot Blanc) on 50 acres of steep, south facing mountain slopes, that face Mosel River. Their vineyards are on some best land in the heart of Mosel wine country called “Mittelmosel”.
2005 was an excellent vintage for German wines. Spätlese, coming from their driest vineyard Sonnenuhr, is probably the best wine produced that year from this estate. If you never tried Riesling before, and you start with this one, I have to warn you. You might become an instant Riesling admire with the danger of never stopping to love this noble grape.
Tasting notes:
You will first notice a beautiful sunny yellow color of this wine, sparkling in the glass thanks to high minerality of Riesling from this region. Wonderful and rich aroma of young apple, peach and vanilla.
You will notice rich sweetness of Riesling with notes of ripe fruit, honey and vanilla, but excellently balanced with acidity. The longer you keep wine in your mouth, the more layers of creamy flavors you will discover. Never ending finish will just make you longing for more. This is wonderfully crafted wine.
Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 20.00
Sustainable farmed
Ideal food pairing:
seafood, spicy food, Magic chicken, Indian or Chinese cuisine, sushi, Chicken Dopiaza
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