Mosel Trip 2018
Mosel Region
Tasted May 10, 2018 - May 11, 2018 by mphatic with 103 views
Introduction
Third and final trip down to the Mosel while living in northern Germany between 2016 and 2018. Family in tow.
Due to most accommodation around Bernkastel being booked out on these days, we rented an excellent 2 bedroom apartment in Sohren which wasn’t too far away.
Flight 1 - A.J. Adam (0 notes)
Tasting appointment with Andreas Adam.
No notes taken, however I thought the Häs’chen Kabinett more refined and Kabinett-styled than Hofberg Kabinett. Hofberg Spatlese appeared too large and rich for a Spätlese. Goldtropfchen Trocken was a standout, and of GG quality.
Purchased the 2017 Häs’chen Kabinett, 2017 Goldtröpfchen Trocken, 2017 Hofberg Auslese.
All wines tasted from Zalto White Wine glass.
Flight 2 - Fritz Haag (9 notes)
Open tasting day at Fritz Haag estate, with Oliver, Wilhelm, and family having a good chat with everybody.
There were many people in attendance, and it was a little difficult to concentrate on the wines. Nevertheless, it’s always a pleasure to taste the range of Fritz Haag wines.
On the sweet side for Kab. Finishes with some earthy dryness. Buy.
Grape essence. High acid. Spicy, some heat initially. Finishes savoury.
Doesn't have the spicy heat of the Juffer GK. More balanced. Deceptively simple (in a good way). Buy.
Flight 3 - Schloss Lieser (10 notes)
Open tasting day at Schloss Lieser estate, with Thomas Haag and family. Packed house, with many drinkers and less serious tasters, which made quiet contemplation difficult.
Schloss Lieser never tends to shy way from richness, and the 2017 vintage was no exception. If anything, the richness of the vintage tended to make some of the wines appear too full and ripe, without the acidic cut needed to provide ultimate balance. No standouts from Kabinett range; the Himmelreich was tighter and drier feeling than others, the Piesporter also nice. Others a bit blousy for a Kabinett style.
Nevertheless, it was enjoyable collection, and the Niederberg wines looked better balanced than the wines from the Juffer Sonnenuhr. My favourites were the WS Spatlese, and the Niederberg Helden Auslese and Auslese GK.
Flight 4 - Martin Müllen (13 notes)
Walk-in tasting at Weingut Martin Müllen, with the incredibly generous, shy, yet somewhat eccentric husband and wife duo of Martin and Susanne running the estate.
What an incredible range of wines they have available on tasting, stored in their wine fridge, spanning multiple vintages. I could have tasted more than 50 wines if I was feeling greedy. Many of the older vintages I tried had been open for weeks or months and were still showing brilliantly with excellent freshness.
Both my first visit to the estate, and first taste of wines from the estate. On this tasting, I’ll be sure to go back again. Great values wines, all around.
Slight chlorine aroma. Much less ripeness than previous 2 Auslesen. Some under-ripe elements? Not my preferred style.
Flight 5 - Willi Schaefer (7 notes)
Tasting appointment with Christoph and Andrea Schaefer. One of my favourite producers that I never get tired of visiting. So welcoming, and friendly. And home to some of the best wines produced in the Mosel.
Many of the 2017s were unavailable, however some other goodies were offered in their place.
All wines tasted from Zalto Universal, which suits Mosel Rieslings perfectly. There’s no excuse these days for using poor quality glassware at sit-down tastings.
Closing
Yet another trip to the Mosel that has left me richer in person and poorer in wallet.