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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 17 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by TexasBob on 2/17/2023 & rated 93 points: Gleaming light 24 karat gold color. Sweet apricots and an almost beer-like yeasty scent on the nose and a faint turpentine note. Lightly syrupy body with notes of lemon curd, apricot, yuzu, and a hint of petroleum in the finish, rather creosote-like. Really delicious and refreshing. (343 views) | | | Tasted by Everything Ahead on 12/16/2022 & rated 92 points: This wine is really aging well. Beautiful golden color but not as advanced on the nose as I would have thought. A bit of pine resin and petrol, but also good fruit (pear, cooked peach), sweetness and acidity very balanced, enough so that it comes across as smooth and round in mouthfeel rather than "sweet". Not super complex, but this is pretty much textbook aged Auslese, and very adaptable at the table (had with seared bacon wrapped scallops with a cider glaze). It always amazes me how well German rieslings can age. Will hold my remaining bottle a few more years as I think this could easily go another 5 (+) years and see improvements. Rating: 92+ (531 views) | | | Tasted by Harry Cantrell on 12/1/2022 & rated 92 points: pale urine color. Nose of pear and spring flowers. Taste medium sweet, mouthfilling, pear, apple. Good (351 views) | | | Tasted by dsamuel on 2/24/2022 & rated 94 points: Deep yellow color with clearing at rim
Medium plus/ intense aromas of fresh yellow apple and pear with lime zest notes and cardamom/ camphor combined with beautiful candied ginger notes of botrytis with just a hint of petrol - just amazing and could smell this all day
Medium bodied with mild/mod RS - palate of ripe citrus/lime and yellow apple and great minerality
Medium plus acidity with low alcohol and no phenolic bitterness
Finish is amazing with great length
Truly a wonderful wine and showing no signs of age other than the gorgeous color!
Drink now but no hurry at all (500 views) | | | Tasted by S.Wayne on 2/20/2022 & rated 92 points: Blind tasting
Pale amber to deep gold, filtered
Aromatics medium +. Honey, ginger, golden flowers, subtle petrol, golden bruised apple and baked pineapple. Quite rich nose.
Palate has medium body. Acid medium +. No phenolics. Alcohol medium. Mild residual sugars. Golden apples
Finish has medium + length. Balanced
Dry glass notes of honey, ginger yet dry
Nice example of an aged Riesling. Aromatics are beautiful. I guessed Alsace Riesling 2010.
Drinking well now, but I suspect can continue to age for years given structure (475 views) | | | Tasted by bigneil on 11/4/2020 & rated 93 points: Wonderful. Lime, honey, mineral and a light sweetness . The acidity is just lively and holds it all together. Sad only one bottle (717 views) | | | Tasted by Kenny_G on 4/16/2020 & rated 93 points: Tasted this over a 2 week period, and the wine held up perfectly. Golden color. Enticing aromas of citrus, raisin, and honey. Lively acidity throughout balances the sweetness. Nicely textured. Finishes with a near endless aftertaste. (684 views) | | | Tasted by chcook on 12/14/2017: Drinking beautifully but still has years ahead. unlike last time i think that this will continue to evolve with age, and i plan to wait at least 5-10 to try again. (1509 views) | | | Tasted by salil on 7/5/2014 & rated 94 points: Absolutely stellar Riesling. It has that classic Würzgarten lime and strawberry fruit, vivid floral, slatey and stony accents, and the start of more savoury creamy and smoky notes on the nose. There's gentle sweetness (less than most modern Spätlese) on the palate, but remarkable intensity and persistence of flavour on a remarkably light, almost weightless frame. The balance, focus, and sense of refreshment here are absolutely incredible, and this is just a stunning wine. (4259 views) | | | Tasted by devraj on 10/25/2013 & rated 92 points: Coravined. Medium yellow in color. High pitched & spicy aromas of kaffir lime leaves, lemon curd, light vanilla and petrol. A wonderfully tense interplay of saliva inducing sweet and tart candied citrus and resiny green fruit on the palate that is both invigorating and inviting you to take another sip. I am sucker for well aged Reisling. (3610 views) | | | Tasted by RationalDenial on 3/9/2012: Antheodor (2/7/12) has all the descriptors down just so. But I would have said if you love spatlese, you'll love this. I was a little surprised by the RS levels. Pleasantly so. This had more zip than sweet. Complex, great harmony and just delicious. (3962 views) | | | Tasted by andtheodor on 2/7/2012: Nearly effervescent apricot, honey, clean, floral nose. Modestly sweet and very pure, crisp palate with some citrus, good acidity and slate. If you like Auslese, you'll love this. (3816 views) | | | Tasted by Winetex on 11/5/2011 & rated 91 points: Rather nice somewhat aged Riesling - Light gold color with good balance and lemon-lime flavors. Balanced with the acidity = sweetness. I liked this but sweet wines tire my palate quickly these days. Probably right in its drinking window. (3331 views) | | | Tasted by andtheodor on 8/5/2011 flawed bottle: Tame nose showing pear, apple, stone. Considerable body with lemon-lime fruit and sour acidity. A little sweet, but really seems to be lacking intensity and verve. [TCA emerged with air] (1386 views) | | | Tasted by chcook on 3/9/2011 & rated 91 points: Wow. this is really drinking well. pale yellow with greenish hue. nose with cantalope predominant, with a hint of lychee and minerals. this wine coats the palate front to back, with a beautiful finish. there is good fruit driven mid-palate weight, but the lively acid prevents this wine from being heavy or cloying. i give this at least 10 more years, but i cannot imagine it will get alot better than it is right now> (1074 views) | | | Tasted by Demisec on 10/25/2007 & rated 92 points: Light straw color. Prominent riesling nose. Soft, thick feel. Moderate sweetness. Good balance of flowers, fruit and acid. Impressive length. More complex than when tasted in 2002, but still rather young. (1554 views) |
| By Jean Fisch and David Rayer
Mosel Fine Wines, Maturing Mosel: 20 years after retrospective of 2001, Issue #56 (4/1/2021)
(Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jean Fisch and David Rayer
Mosel Fine Wines, Maturing Mosel: Notes from the cellar, Issue #30 (1/1/2016)
(Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jean Fisch and David Rayer
Mosel Fine Wines, Maturing Mosel: 10 years after retrospective of 2001, Issue #15 (4/1/2011)
(Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Lyle Fass
Rockss and Fruit (2/26/2003)
(Merkelbach Urzinger Wurzgarten Auslese) Wow this was great! Minerals, apple, kiwi, slate, Even a hint of flowers. Almost like a perfume of Riesling. Great in the mouth with those ripe kiwi, lime zest, peach skin flavors all backed by a slab of slate. Kind of truncuated on the finish. Great now but I would sit on this till 2007. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Mosel Fine Wines and Rockss and Fruit. (manage subscription channels) |
| Alfred Merkelbach Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
•Vineyard area: 1.9 hectares
•Annual production: 1,500 cases
•Top sites: Ürziger Würzgarten, Erdener Treppchen, Kinheimer Rosenberg
•Soil types: Slate
•Grape varieties: 100% Riesling Riesling Varietal character (Appellation America) | A short history of Riesling (Uncork) | Riesling (wikipedia)Auslese Wikipedia article on Auslese.Ürziger Würzgarten 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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