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Champagne faces off against sparkling Riesling
7 June 2024
by Jo Gilbert
… and for media enquiries, imagery and quotes, please kindly contact our dedicated UK press agency fran@drinksnetwork.com
Riesling Love: The passion of Dr Lippold
28 June 2024
by Ruma Singh DipWSET
Dr. Lippold – A Riesling from a Magical Terroir
For centuries, the “Würzgarten” has been renowned as one of the premier vineyard sites along the Mosel. In 1804, during Napoleon’s reign, all vineyards across the French Empire, including those in "La Moselle" (then French territory), were meticulously classified. The parcel "Weltersberg," from which the grapes for this Riesling are sourced, earned the prestigious "Grand Cru" designation, placing it on par with the revered Grand Crus of Burgundy.
The Inaugural Vintage
This vineyard benefits from a unique nanoclimate, where heat-retaining rocks in the surrounding area provide additional hours of warmth each day, extending the growing season. The grapes are produced from selection massale vines that average 70 years of age, resulting in small berries with an exceptionally low yield. The soil, a mix of red slate and volcanic rhyolite, imparts a rich mineral character, enhancing the wine’s aromatic complexity.
Expect an abundance of spice and fruit aromas, led by ripe mango, peach, and apricot, with nuances of mint, floral petals, and a backbone of minerality and ripe acidity. This carefully crafted balance makes for a distinctive and memorable Riesling.
After three careful pre-selections, the final grapes were harvested on November 9, 2008. The juice underwent a cool, slow fermentation, with the young wine then maturing sur lie (on the lees) and receiving regular batonnage (stirring of the lees) until it was bottled on July 15, 2009. The first small batch of this wine was released in 2012.
As is typical of renowned Mosel Rieslings, this wine is expected to develop remarkable complexity over time. With proper storage, its potential shelf life extends until 2035, promising an evolving character that will only grow richer in the coming years.
Jancis Robinson MW OBE, the esteemed British wine critic, wrote in The Financial Times (May 24, 2014) about Riesling's timeless appeal:
"If you are looking for a demonstrably long-lived white wine, look no further than fine Riesling, perhaps a classic wine from the Mosel that may be light in alcohol but will have no shortage of flavour. With time, the fruit develops real complexity and tastes less sweet, while the wine will always be high in refreshing acidity. And, who knows? Having observed the cyclical nature of fashions in wine, I think it is perfectly possible that light whites will be regarded as extremely smart in 2034."
2018 Spätlese AC
Concentrated Riesling on slate with a distinctly spearmint note. Really mouth filling. I love this particular balance.
Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com May 2024
2018 Hochgewächs
…a pithy Riesling from 70-year-old own-rooted vines
Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits Magazine, Dec 2023
2018 Kabinett
…effectively a dry wine, beautifully calibrated hiding it´s RS of 15 g/L – a model of delicacy and finesse
Roger Bohmrich MW, June, 29, 2022
2017 Auslese
…a real beauty. Just at the beginning of its drinking window, and so alive and tense and vivid.
Margaret Rand, July 22, 2024
2016 Spätlese
…impeccably balanced epitome of Würzgarten virtues
David Schildknecht, Vinous, Jan 2018
2016 Kabinett
This is what I call a classic Kabinett
David Schildknecht, Vinous, Jan 2018
2016 ANTE
A generic Mosel seldom if ever gets better than this
David Schildknecht, Vinous, Jan 2018
2015 Kabinett
…shows fine development of flavors
Aleks Zecevic, Wine Spectator, Jan - Feb 2020
2013 Spätlese
…more savory than sweet.
Tara Thomas, Wine & Spirits Magazine, Feb 2018
2013 Spätlese
...had time converting into savory umami notes. Top scoring white wine’ (96 pts)
Tara Thomas, Wine & Spirits Magazine, Feb 2020
2012 Auslese
...mineral notes and nutty edge of maturity.
Tara Thomas, Wine and Spirits Magazine, Feb 2018
2010 Auslese
…intrinsically Mosel, natural richness, enhanced by age, superb to 2040
Steven Spurrier, Decanter, Feb 2019
2010 Auslese
on the second day…allowing the fruit to swell albeit in a beautifully linear profile, just giving it a bit graceful mouthfeel centre-palate.
Tom Stevenson, Oct 15, 2018
2008 Spätlese
…can be cellared for up to 20 years and will gain complexity with bottle age
David Gadd, The Tasting Panel, Dec 2016
2008 Spätlese
…wine lovers may need to recalibrate our palates
Tomás Clancy for The Sunday Business Post, Dublin, Apr 2017
2008 Spätlese
…lovely evolution …so much extract, so little alcohol. Doesn't taste 16 years-old at all. Well done!
Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com May 2024
2008 Spätlese
this wine epitomizes everything great and appealing about 2008
Fisch/Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines, June 2018