A Visit To Schwaab-Dietz
Erden, Germany
Tasted September 4, 2011 by subtlet with 1,254 views
Introduction
Shortly after arriving in Germany, my friends from the Teutonic Wine Company invited me to join them on a visit to Weingut Schwaab-Dietz in Erden. This proved to be a lovely visit to a small family estate. Four brothers agreed to work together to keep the estate after their father's passing. It's an ambitious endeavor, and it's really wonderful to see the commitment they must have to maintain a working winery. They have some wonderful vineyard sites in the family, and had they not taken it over, it would either be sold off and likely be turned into bulk production Riesling, or even left to the weeds if the buyer deemed it not profitable enough to farm. Their dedication is preserving both the legacy of their family, and some lovely vineyards that deserve the care that passionate farming and wine making can deliver. I didn't include specific prices, because I don't know what they'd be in the USA, but in the spectrum of wines I tasted in the Mosel, these are very reasonably priced.
Flight 1 (7 notes)
White - Sparkling
2009 Schwaab-Dietz Riesling Brüdersekt
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Apples and elderflower aromas rise from the glass with scents of baking flower giving some body to the sensation. When tasted, it reminds me of apples baked into a breakfast pastry. It's light on the palate, and the acidity has a great feel to it. The juice is clean, and bubbles rise up on the front of the palate to clear the way for apple flavors in the middle. If it's held on the palate for a few seconds, a touch of sweetness shows itself. This is an easy drinking winner. 89-
White
2010 Schwaab-Dietz Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese trocken
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
The nose shows interesting notes of cantaloupe along with a touch of honey and a floral hint. The honey gives a light touch on the palate along with clean, juicy apples. Despite the wines dryness, there is a hint of rich fruit on the mid palate that gives some peach flavor. The peaches linger gently while the acidity slowly comes in. The acidity grows to dry fully. While the acidity shows great length on the finish, it outlasts the nice flavors giving the wine a firm feeling when all is said and done.
White - Off-dry
2010 Schwaab-Dietz Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Full minerality greets you on the nose with such enthusiasm that it suggests sparkles. A touch of apple aromas mingle with rich melon scents. Clean and complex apples appear on the palate. The wine is at once crisp and rich. The acidity and minerality work to give a feeling of lightness on the palate, and the apple flavors linger long. The wine is persistent on the finish, and the acid dries firmly while the apple flavors hang in there.
White - Off-dry
2010 Schwaab-Dietz Riesling Hochgewächs Feinherb
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
The wine is light and bright on the nose with apple scents backed by minerality that suggests bubbles. Real nice apple flavors show quickly on the palate with a touch of melon flavors providing richness. The acidity feels a bit awkward as it sets in on the mid palate, but it still provides a crisp finish. Enjoyable apple flavors appear in the middle as well.
White - Off-dry
2010 Schwaab-Dietz Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese feinherb
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
This wine shows great complexity on the nose. Green and red apple scents are given depth by intriguing suggestions of acidic structure. It's light and clean out of the gate when tasted. Ripe fruits evolve nicely and the apple flavors that appear linger long. As one would expect, the acidity here has a more gentle touch than the trocken wines in the lineup. The finish is long, and thick apple peel flavors run all the way out with slowly evolving acidity. To me, this is best enjoyed in small sips to allow the full complexity to play out.
White - Off-dry
2010 Schwaab-Dietz Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
The nose is full of great scents! Light limes and apricots provide zesty fruit scents while a touch of vanilla and honeycomb suggest a rich body. The suggested richness is apparent immediately on the palate. Light acidity shows itself early giving the wine bright character. It's full and juicy on the mid palate with very elegant acid running out through the finish. While the acid is drying gently, pineapple and apple peel flavors linger in the center of the tongue. 90+
White - Off-dry
2010 Schwaab-Dietz Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
The nose is explosive with full aromas of apples, flowers, and pineapple providing luxuriously draped around a light cola note that adds some intrigue to this wine. Clean apples and gentle limes show quickly on the palate, and they evolve into lovely rich peach flavors. The acidity remains gentle but firm throughout the experience. The peaches sit roundly on the back of the palate while the acid runs out with fantastic purity. The wine delivers a crystalline feel that is very engaging. 92-
Closing
It was a treat to taste these wines, and I wish the brothers success in the coming years!
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