Smokey and herbaceous at first. Tart fruit that eventually relents and becomes richer and the acidity comes alive after a few hours. Layered finish. So good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the dry side, more like something straddling trocken and kab. Balance of slight tart, slight sweet with a bit of herbaceous and pumpkin. This is very nicely balanced and food-friendly. Excellent QPR.
The pumpkin note, which I've encountered in other exalted wines like Egon Muller is not to my taste, but thats not a criticism.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is nice but it feels a bit reserved and one-note right now, showing bright apple fruit tinged with floral and slate notes. It's pleasant but somewhat simple compared to what these wines typically show in their youth, with the sweetness dominating a bit and the aromatics relatively reticent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Rieslingfeier of our Own; 2/13/2017-2/18/2017 (Traben-Trarbach, Germany): Alas, I'm not sure which bottling of UW Spätlese the wine I tasted precisely was, as my German was not quite up to the task of clarifying, and this was in an anonymous bottle. In any case, this is a delicious, classic UW Spätlese. It has that clear spice note, as well as some sweet apple flavours. Very dense, this needs time to uncoil. A light touch of herbaceousness on the finish adds even more interest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
AP 10 16. I have to confess that no matter how much I try to like Merkelbach's wines, they just don't do it for me. I really WANT to like them. The story of two bachelor brothers in their 80s running a winery for just the sheer love of it. An appeal to an older style of winemaking and a last link to a dying tradition.
But I just don't see it. Fairly low acidity didn't seem to back up the ripe 2015 signature. Very nice nose, but that was by far the best part of this fairly generic wine. Oddly enough, the first day showed the best but it quickly lost steam over the next two days. I'm curious to open another since others have rated this so highly (up to 96 points) but I plan on devoting cellar space to the truly astounding Prum, Schaefer, Zilliken, and Christoffel Jr. wines released this year instead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/26/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:
Smokey and herbaceous at first. Tart fruit that eventually relents and becomes richer and the acidity comes alive after a few hours. Layered finish. So good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2021 - Pinot_Geek Likes this wine:
On the dry side, more like something straddling trocken and kab.
Balance of slight tart, slight sweet with a bit of herbaceous and pumpkin. This is very nicely balanced and food-friendly. Excellent QPR.
The pumpkin note, which I've encountered in other exalted wines like Egon Muller is not to my taste, but thats not a criticism.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
Languorous Memorial Day Barbecue Lunch (San Francisco): Pale yellow. Like the 2016, quite dry, but slightly heftier with guava fruit and more spice. Stronger acidity. Young and very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2017 - salil wrote: 87 Points
This is nice but it feels a bit reserved and one-note right now, showing bright apple fruit tinged with floral and slate notes. It's pleasant but somewhat simple compared to what these wines typically show in their youth, with the sweetness dominating a bit and the aromatics relatively reticent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2017 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
A Rieslingfeier of our Own; 2/13/2017-2/18/2017 (Traben-Trarbach, Germany): Alas, I'm not sure which bottling of UW Spätlese the wine I tasted precisely was, as my German was not quite up to the task of clarifying, and this was in an anonymous bottle. In any case, this is a delicious, classic UW Spätlese. It has that clear spice note, as well as some sweet apple flavours. Very dense, this needs time to uncoil. A light touch of herbaceousness on the finish adds even more interest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2016 - Stevelayden Likes this wine: 90 Points
AP 10 16. I have to confess that no matter how much I try to like Merkelbach's wines, they just don't do it for me. I really WANT to like them. The story of two bachelor brothers in their 80s running a winery for just the sheer love of it. An appeal to an older style of winemaking and a last link to a dying tradition.
But I just don't see it. Fairly low acidity didn't seem to back up the ripe 2015 signature. Very nice nose, but that was by far the best part of this fairly generic wine. Oddly enough, the first day showed the best but it quickly lost steam over the next two days. I'm curious to open another since others have rated this so highly (up to 96 points) but I plan on devoting cellar space to the truly astounding Prum, Schaefer, Zilliken, and Christoffel Jr. wines released this year instead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment