2024 Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett, Hofgut Falkenstein

The 2024er Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett Palm (the reference to this internal cask name is provided in small print on the label after the AP number) comes from different small parcels on the western side of the vineyard and was fermented down to off-dry levels of residual sugar. It offers a fresh and attractive nose of yellow peach, greengage, lavender, spearmint, cinnamon, and apple. The wine is superbly balanced and playful on the light, juicy palate. It leaves a fresh, animating dryish finish. This is a superb, just off-dry tasting Riesling. 2030–2044 92/100 Mosel Fine Wines Erich Weber of Hofgut Falkenstein makes ultra-traditional, mostly dry-tasting Saar Rieslings. He likes to call himself “Winzer Weber.” Winzer is German for winegrower. In other words, the emphasis is on the work in his vineyards. With his tan and rugged face, he looks the part, too. Erich ferments exclusively with wild yeasts in old wooden casks in a deep, cool cellar, and most of his wines end up either naturally dry (trocken) or off-dry (feinherb). Falkenstein, therefore, is one of the rare Saar producers that specializes in distinctive, bracing, light, dry Rieslings, bottled traditionally by the cask. Falkenstein makes light-bodied, tangy, wholesome, dry-tasting Saar Rieslings, as well as residually sweet Spätlesen and Auslesen. These are old-style wines for drinking, which often retain a lively (spritzig), natural efferverscence from fermentation. In other words, they go down well — Trinkfluss in German. © 2014 Lars Carlberg