2009 Schmitges Kabinett “Red Slate,” Mosel, $21.99/Sale $17.99: Significant concentration. Ripe fruit on the palate. A grand success for Andrea Schmitges and his Erdener Treppchen vineyard. What a site.
2010 Leitz Out Riesling, Rheingau, $12.99/Sale $11.49: The Leitz family are German superstars and have been doing it since 1744. This nearly dry white is delightful. We don’t know how they do it at the low price. And we love the “Leitz Out” play on words. Check out the label.
2010 J.J. Christoffel Erdener Treppchen Kabinett, $26.99/Sale $22.99: Year after year, Christoffel produces some of the greatest wines in Germany. This staggering Riesling gives remarkably clear fruit and some befuddling beautiful spice. Remarkable work.
2010 Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese, $23.99/Sale $19.99: Not only does Merkelbach make lovely wines, they sell them at lovely prices. Precise fruit, sugar and acid here, make it a shining example of a sweetish wine.
Wine score legend:
ST: Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
WA: Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
WE: Wine Enthusiast
W&S: Wine & Spirits
WS: Wine Spectator
