2016 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg

Community Tasting Notes (10) Avg Score: 90.8 points

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  2/11/2023 - dagij Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Clear straw verging on golden, but also with a hint of green brilliant glints. Ripe nose (compared to a German Riesling in the same quality area) dominated by yellow apples (almost baked with a hint of cinnamon!), a slightly nutty or oxidized tone, and a fine streak of petroleum. Full bodied attack, smooth and velvety entry, lots of yellow apple-fruit on the mid-palate, good acidity, and a fine aftertaste dominated by baked apples with a touch of lemon. Some alcohol emerges on the finish.
  This is clearly a good wine, but I wonder why I'm underwhelmed almost every time I taste a top notch Alsace Riesling. Compared to the top German dry Rieslings, these wines - this included - lack that intense and vibrant acidity, the hefty mineral tones, and the somewhat etheric "lightness". I guess these wines are easier to like for the novice, but I will reserve my future investments for German Rieslings (except for few bottles of Zind Humbrecht now and then...)

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  12/28/2022 - dagij Likes this wine: 86 Points

  I had a kick on Alsace Rieslings some years ago and bought some good vineyards from some good producers. Ostertag's Muenchberg should be one of the best. As I remember, it drank very well when young. So how about at six years of age? Well, the color is clearly aged. almost golden. Deep and sweet nose dominated by pear and ripe peach, combined with a clear petroleum tone and a slight oxidation. Full bodied, almost sweet attack with lots of baked apples, pear and peach up front, sufficient acidity, an almost tannic feel on the mid palate. The finish is somewhat sweet with just enough acidity to keep the wine fresh enough. The oxidized tones dominate the aftertaste. It is fascinating to see how differently Alsace and German Rieslings age. From my experience over the last year (I have decided to decimate my stock of these wines), Alsace Rieslings are not for the long haul. This wine should have been drunk a couple of years ago. But, if you like the slightly oxidized style, this is probably a treat. A good wine, but a disappointment given the price. Maybe it is an "off" bottle, but I do not think so. I will try one of my last bottles soon.

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  4/24/2022 - Morrisson Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Nous avons ouvert une autre bouteille de se millésime et s'est vraiment magnifique. L'un de mes plus belles expériences avec Ostertag. Je relève mon pointage et je me trouve un peu conservateur.

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  3/13/2022 - Morrisson Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Content d’avoir un peu attendu cette bouteille. L’équilibre et la complexité sont au rendez-vous. La trame d’acidité devrait permettre à ce riesling de continuer à vieillir en beauté. La texture est ´´text boom’ pour l’appellation. Le goût et le nez sont dans les agrumes, la pêche et la poire. C’est riche sans être dans l’excès.

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  9/8/2020 - dagij Likes this wine: 91 Points

  A real beauty combining the fatness of classic Alsace Riesling with the crispyness of good, dry German Rieslings. Light straw colour, nice viscosity with heavy tears on the glass. Intense nose of baked apples, green olives, slate, and a hint of bread (very unexpected in an Alsace Riesling). Full bodied, fresh attack that soon gives way to an intense, fruity taste of red/yellow apples and white peach. The finish complements the fruit with citrus and a nice bitter tone reminiscent of olive/peach stones. Long and fresh aftertaste with a slightly bitter tone, and hints of slate and petroleum. This is really a wine made for food, try it with any grilled fish (both white and red). Still young at the moment, will benefit from a couple of more years of cellaring.

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