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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2023 (based on 8 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.5 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 24 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by octopussy on 4/17/2018 & rated 83 points: Riesling Swag 2018 (Vlet Hamburg): I've had three times before with consistent results (88-89 P). All bottles had a medium to light golden colour and were decently clean for a 2006. But this bottle was a bit of a mess with a dark golden colour and a nose full of unclean botrytis and overripe apple. Quite sweet and a tad bitter as well. You can drink it, but it's not much fun. (1841 views) | | | Tasted by DK Amateur on 3/28/2018: Deep golden. This has reached a harmonious maturity where the mellow richness is balanced by an excellent acidity. I didn't decant it, and we drank it over two hours, so I can't report on any ulterior developments. It is not at all tired, in fact the Heyman Löwenstein wines seem to age very slowly. (1382 views) | | | Tasted by olracx62 on 10/1/2016 & rated 92 points: deep golden at the eye, light orange. Hydrocarbons and slate the first scents in the baloon. Then tons of ripe tropical exotic fruit with some honey and dried apples and apricot. Palate consistent with nose. Time has long worked on this wine releasing surprising hidden notes but reducing acidity over time. Seems almost a late harvest wine. Wonder how it was five years ago (1700 views) | | | Tasted by Rob and Meg on 1/19/2014 & rated 90 points: Though still quite advanced in color, this was much fresher than our pervious bottle, however still lacked the energy and liveliness of the first. Nevertheless this boasted gorgeous aromas of apricots, golden apple, lemon candy, and honeysuckle. Rich and viscous on the palate as a melange of tropical fruits competes with racy lime citrus and saline crushed rock. Almond paste, dried herbs, and peach pit add interest to the finish. Drink. (2831 views) | | | Tasted by Rob and Meg on 1/7/2014 & rated 85 points: This was quite advanced and evolved compared to our prior bottle. Rich golden color. Quite savory aromas of dried spiced pineapple, waxy citrus, coriander, and fallen leaves. Rich and viscous on the palate, as baked citrus, honeysuckle, and cinnamon compete with fading lemon citrus acidity. Not sure if this is representative, but it certainly wasn't as vibrant and explosive of our last bottle. Nevertheless, there is a bit of interest to the savory qualities. Drink. (2723 views) | | | Tasted by DK Amateur on 8/9/2013: Decanted half an hour. Deep golden and at first almost Auslese-like in its richness. Then the richness appears more balanced by the magnificent acidity. Complexity begins to unfold itself between the poles of golden grape-like richness, austere minerality and balancing acidity. Great wine, immensely attractive. (2106 views) | | | Tasted by slaughterer on 11/17/2012 & rated 99 points: From a magnum won at auction at Starnberger See. Bombastic nose of grapefruit, maracuja, mango, pineapple, salt, burnt wood, and slate. Very intense, high-pitched palate of the same tastes with the salt, slate, and iron dominating the fruit in the long, sweet, elegant end. Near ideal balance of acid, minerals, salt, sugar and exotic fruit. For lovers of Baroque rieslings with incredibly exotic fruit. I subtract one point from perfection only because I think this is showing a little more sugar than it should to be a classic. (2652 views) | | | Tasted by DK Amateur on 6/27/2012: Decanted two hours and brought to a dinner; drunk out of inadequate glasses. Very good if a bit on the fat side. The leftovers were much better the second day in the usual glasses (Riedel vinum riesling): distinct licorice and a kind of lively controlled richness - went well with a steak! (2166 views) | | | Tasted by NoTrollingerPlease on 3/25/2012 & rated 91 points: Very nice Riesling. Some Petrol notes in the nose, but not very much. You can smell the slate. Medium finish. (1523 views) | | | Tasted by Rob and Meg on 3/19/2012 & rated 92 points: The nose is complex and beginning to mature, showing tones of waxy citrus, dried pineapple, white flowers, honeycomb, and roasted almond. The palate opens with ripe melon, gorgeously authentic mixed tropical fruits, as well as a melange of lush lemon and tangerine. The powerful mid-palate adds elaborate notes of roasted nuts, orange blossom, smoke, and cinnamon all supported by infiltrating slate minerality. The finish is nearly endless, featuring a wonderful interplay of tart citrus zest, watermelon, ginger, and raw coconut. The balance of ripe fruit and acidity is simply exquisite, allowing a simultaneously full texture and refreshing disposition. This is fantastic stuff. R&M 92 (1367 views) | | | Tasted by DK Amateur on 9/23/2011: Perhaps I am just happy and at ease with the world today but anyway the 2006 Roth Lay impresses me with a really incredible aromatic complexity, even greater than the 2007 at present. This is my bottle number 6 or 7 of the 2006 and it has never been better. Opened and drunk over two hours it first showed a richness with some botrytis and sugar balanced by acidity. Then the aromatic fireworks began - lemon, rocks, tropical fruits; after that the sour cherries of sangiovese or certain pinot noirs; a whiff of raspberry; then Sun Maid raisins (sulphur?) and then something that was just harmonious and nice with the aftertaste of violets that I associate with H-L wines. At times it reminded structurally of the 2001 spätlesen of Müller Catoir with their 10,5-11 % alcohol and a sweetness or rather richness which is integrated into a wonderfully energetic and intriguing taste with good acidity. If Romanée Conti is as good as this it must indeed be a great wine. (1594 views) | | | Tasted by manonthemoon on 5/20/2011 & rated 91 points: Notes from day 1, open for about 1 hour.
Light gold in color.
Nose of of lychee, dried pineapple, a little which peach going on, white flowers, minerals, with a hint of diesel showing.
Palate of lychee, white peach, tons of minerals, some petrol showing with extended air and smoke.
The finish was long in length and the is a nice mouthfeel and lots of acidity.
Overall this wine was really nice, just wish there was a little more petrol going on for my palate.
Hold or drink: 50+5+12+17+7
Update from day 2 of being open.
More of a floral driven nose.
Much more sea salt showing on the tail end that is really nice with honey and lemon with a little petrol showing.
Really a nice bottle worth laying down for a few imo. 92 (1503 views) | | | Tasted by boodra on 3/22/2011 & rated 91 points: Very nice. Light golden color. Notes of peach and mature apples. Light mineral touch but mostly about fruit in the mouth. Finishes with an elegant honey sweetnes. (1393 views) | | | Tasted by tooch on 3/4/2011 & rated 91 points: Another enjoyable wine from Heymann-Lowenstein. The nose of this was exotic and complex with wet slate, lychee juice, subtle papaya and white peach. The palate had a slight waxiness to it and combined lush tropical fruit with smokey minerals and white flowers. A vein of acidity ran down the spine of this wine creating exceptional balance. (1582 views) | | | Tasted by isaacjamesbaker on 3/3/2011 & rated 90 points: Thursday Night Grab Bag (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): golden colored in the glass. nose of apricots, potpourri, lychee and honey. the palate is really fresh with flowers, lime peels and apricots. the balance between the fruit and the minerals is amazing. what a gorgeous wine. this will last for 20 years easily and gain in complexity. (2100 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 11/27/2010 & rated 92 points: Occasional tasting group (@ PZ Only Magnums): Still a little youthful sparkles in the start. Apples, lemon and oranges and yellow fruits. Concentrated and tasteful. Some minerals and just a hint of sweetness. Great wine with many years ahead. (1152 views) | | | Tasted by wurzel68 on 9/11/2010 & rated 90 points: Mittleres goldgelb; reife Pfirsich- und Apfelnoten, Honig, Kräuter; trotz des relativ geringen Alkoholgehalts voller, mineralisch geprägter Wein mit Restsüße und einer leicht bitteren Unternote; sehr trinkig, langer Abgang (1482 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 5/1/2010 & rated 94 points: A private lunch (Restaurant Schloss Berg ***, Perl/Nennig, Germany): Substantial colour, wonderful depth and finesse, fruit and slate, very clean, slightly salty, still a bit yeasty, very expressive of its terroir and its producer. (1631 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 7/4/2009 & rated 89 points: Private dinner with friends. (@ MWe): A lot of sweetness in combination with good acidity. Fresh and good bitterness. Very low alcohol, but a great pleasure. (2002 views) | | | Tasted by Yagil on 12/25/2008 & rated 88 points: at Giaconda (1463 views) |
| Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein Producer website
Reinhard Lowenstein, whose family had been winegrowers for generations, was as a youth somewhat rebellious and did not want to follow the family tradition. He became active politically and in the early ‘70s was even a member of the Communist Party in France. He became disillusioned with the Communists’ hypocrisy and blind acceptance of doctrine, and quit the Party. He learned, though, that his earlier decision had far-reaching consequences. These extreme political propensities were no more admired by France employers at that time, than they were in America, and as a consequence Reinhard soon learned that he could not get a job. From anyone. He finally realized that he had no choice but to go back home and make wine. His questioning mind and views of the world, moreover, put him in good stead to be a winemaker. He has become one of the most famous and iconoclast winemakers in Germany. His wines are so sought after that he sells nearly 60% of his production to private customers in Germany, and the rest are highly allocated around the world. His vineyards are located on the far eastern edge of the Mosel, above Winnigen, just a few miles from Koblenz, on some of the highest and steepest slopes of the Mosel. Here the soils are virtually all slate, and Reinhard has made a study, not only of expositions, but even more, each type (color) of slate. So there is Blauen Schiefer (blue slate), Roth lay (red slate, Lay being another name for slate), prominently noted on the various cuvees. In fact, he is so well-known for these minute studies of soil and exposition that he has been given the name “terroir-ist” by the German press. Due to the extreme low yields and old vines, these are not “light, pretty” wines, either. They are big, powerful Auslese level wines with little residual sugar and imposing structure. As one goes “up the ladder”, each wine is more and more concentrated and an even more perfect expression of its terroir. These are German wines for people who would also love Grand Cru white Burgundy like Batard-Montrachet or Corton-Charlemagne. Indeed, Revue du Vin de France named Heymann –Lowenstein (Reinhard’s wife’s maiden name is Heymann), Foreign Winery of the Year last year, over Vega-Sicilia and three other nominees. One could fairly describe Reinhard, both in fame and style, as the F.X. Pichler of the Mosel.Riesling Varietal character (Appellation America) | A short history of Riesling (Uncork) | Riesling (wikipedia)"R" Roth Lay On weinlagen-infoWinninger Uhlen On weinlagen-infoGermany Wines of Germany | The Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) | How to read a German wine label | Geographical Information Down to Single Vineyards
#2014 Vintage Notes:
2014 Vintage Report by Terry Theise
2014 Vintage Report by Wine Spectator
"My gut still tells me the Saar (and to some extent) the Ruwer are better overall in 2014 than the more storied areas of the Mosel proper, but those that spent the requisite time living in their middle-Mosel vineyards made some of the most electric and "feathery" Riesling in a long time (maybe the finest in 20 years - yes, it's true!)" - Jon Rimmerman (Of course only a very short historical memory would call the Saar and Ruwer less 'storied' than the middle Mosel - jht)Mosel Saar RuwerStarting in 2007 the German wine authorities have changed labeling laws to rename all of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wines to just "Mosel." This puts this and other database driven sites in a difficult spot, as millions of old wine label reflect the former labeling. As described here, CellarTracker has elected to remain with the old labeling for a number of years to avoid confusion. At some point we will switch over to just "Mosel" but not for a few years at least.
Mosel WeinKulturland (Moselwein e.V.)
Detailed geographical information at weinlagen.info
#2018 Vintage Notes:
"Acid levels are relatively low throughout Riesling-growing Europe (acidification will once again be permitted in Germany – no surprise, as that’s been the case in eight of the last 10 vintages); but because malic acid was baked off or degraded by relentlessly balmy weather means, what acid remains is overwhelmingly of the efficacious tartaric sort. Extract levels are low, as one would anticipate from a growing season during which relatively little moisture was coursing through the vine’s roots and shoots. [...] Everyone is astonished how there could have been so much juice despite the drought." - David Schildknecht
"2018 is a homogenous vintage with a very high general level, below which it seldom falls [...] It leads with blossom. It is perhaps 80% delicious and 20% fascinating." - Terry Theise
#2017 Vintage Notes:
"not so friendly towards light wines" - Milkmansteve
#2016 Vintage Notes: "Overall, 2016 is a charmer of a vintage with much immediate ripe and fruity appeal, not unlike 2011 (in fresher) or 2007 (in lighter). However, 2016 is far from being homogeneous, in fact it is composed of a mosaic of vintages, a result of the freakish growing conditions. Hidden inside the vintage, there are true gems with the balance of 1997, one of the best vintages ever, 2002 or even 2008. The bulk of the harvest was brought in with refreshingly moderate sugar levels. Overall, the Saar and Ruwer produced slightly fresher wines than the Middle Mosel but there are great differences between Estates. The good harvest conditions allowed for some Auslese, little BA and even TBA wines, but some remarkably pure and fruity Eiswein.
In general, 2016 offers the opportunity to acquire Riesling with great immediate ripe appeal: The vintage is a true charmer. At the top, 2016 is one of the most exciting and elegantly balanced vintage since the 1990s and well-worth stocking up for cellaring! In particular, we urge our readers to literally plunge onto the finest Kabinett and Spätlese: These are some of the most exciting and classic we have ever tasted. 2016 looks also set to become a major vintage for dry Riesling, provided the aromatics are not overripe. Lovers of dessert wines will find much to love in 2016 as the Auslese are pure and the Eiswein are gorgeously fruity. They should however also keep an eye open for the remaining stunning noble-sweet wines from 2015 which are still available here and there." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 36, July 2017
#2014 Vintage Notes:
"The heterogeneity of the 2014 vintage carries over onto the aging process. The top wines start to close down, as one would expect from these wines which are a remake of those from the 1990s. The wines affected by gin, saffron and mushroom flavors are still comparatively open and offer a not unattractive Scheurebe styled fruit opulence. We would opt to drink up these lesser wines except for the odd bottle and bury the little treasures of the vintage deep into the cellar." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 30, March 2016
#2013 Vintage Notes:
"The fruity-styled 2013 wines have firmed up significantly since last year and start to show signs of closing down, making the underlying acidity seemingly sharp and out of balance. The better dry wines have come out of their early armor of smoke and tannin but the acidity may prove quite challenging. Quite frankly, except for some smaller bottlings, this is a vintage to lay down and wait." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2012 Vintage Notes:
"The 2012 wines have put on some flesh and go through a 'fattier' phase which is not unlike what the 2007 went through at the same period. However, the zestier acidity cuts through this 'weight' and makes the wines thoroughly enjoyable at this early stage. In particular the fruity Kabinett and Spatlese as well as the off-dry and dry wines offer much pleasure. We expect these wines to close down over the coming year or two. Enjoy while it lasts!" - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2011 Vintage Notes:
"A bit to our surprise, the 2011 wines have shut down and go through a quite difficult and muted phase now. Their low acidity combined with their maturity makes them feel rich, opulent and often bulky, and thus not really enjoyable. We expect that these will need at least a decade to integrate their sweetness and gain in harmony. The only exception is the dry wines, whose low acidity makes for great food companionship." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2010 Vintage Notes:
"After a mellower period in 2012, many 2010 wines have firmed up and developed a stronger smoky side. However, most continue to shine through their fruit opulence, structure and deliciously zesty but ripe acidity. This suits in particular the off-dry bottlings, which have more charm than the legally dry wines. Will these wines close down? Actually, the softening acidity makes us wonder now but it also provides further evidence that these wines will turn out harmonious after all." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015
#2009 Vintage Notes:
"Most 2009 wines have closed down, which accentuates their round and soft side forward. Many can still be quite enjoyable but the times of primary fruit with its attractive aromatic expression and a generous acidic kick are now over. Except for the dry wines, we would definitely recommend keeping your hands off any bottle in your cellar and possibly buying more wines from this vintage on the market as these are true gems in the making." - Mosel Fines Wines, No. 27, March 2015 |
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