Beurer, Jochen 2021 Württemberg 'In der Luft' Riesling Chardonnay

The label for "In der Luft" says it all; "In the Air" in English, showing a photo of winemaker and BMX guru from Swabia, Jochen Beurer "flying" over a rally car  on his bike! An ethereal blend of Riesling with Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer, unfiltered with great lift and energy. The nose wafts clouds of lychee and green jalapeno whilst the palate shows flavors of juicy green melon and lime. A total blast of fantasy and fun, not taking itself seriously and meant to be shared with company. In the words of the most excellent Wayne's World: "Party on Garth!" Giselle Hamburg

Brand 2021 Pfalz Weissburgunder

Hailing from the Northern Pfalz near the border with the Rheinhessen and it's limestone soils. Fresh like a German mountain meadow with herbaceous notes of pine forest floor, grass and white flowers,. Extremely zippy and refreshing with notes of limeade, green apple and peach with effervescent acidity yet juicy fruit. The perfect spring picnic wine meant to be consumed in the great outdoors with a brisk chill, able to accompany all manner of light fare: Pure Spring in a Liter Bottle. Giselle Hamburg

Dostert, Jonas 2021 Mosel Weiss Karambolage

Dostert, Jonas 2021 Mosel Weiss Pinot gris

Dreissigacker 2021 Rheinhessen Riesling Trocken

Jochen Dreissigacker took over his family's estate in 2001 and works organically (certified). The entry-level trocken a mix of estate and purchased grapes (all organic), from mostly south/southeast-facing sites on loess and loam. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless steel tank. Pale gold in the glass. Cool-toned and savory on the nose, with aromas of crushed herbs, honeysuckle, and flint. Dry and lively on the palate with fine mineral cut and mouth-watering acidity highlighted by red apple and stone fruit flavors, with a salty core and a bright minty coolness on the finish. John McIlwain

Enderle and Moll 2021 Baden Pinot Noir Basis

The so called entry level Enderle & Moll Pinot. 30-year-old vines planted on the two predominant soil types in Baden: colored sandstone and shell limestone. The palate has a snap of cherry and cranberry piquancy – mild tannins and food friendly body. Picnic wine!

Gunderloch 2022 Rheinhessen Riesling Trocken 'Hasselbach'

Gunderloch's "entry level" dry riesling from the flatter lands atop of the Roter Hang cliffs that rise up above the Rhine river just south of Mainz. Comprised of red crumbly slate soils, the wine is imbued with great minerality and fresh herbaceousness. A wonderful riesling for Sauvignon Blanc lovers! Giselle Hamburg

Harteneck 2020 Baden Spatburgunder

Harteneck 2021 Baden Vollmond Chasselas

Immich-Batterieberg 2018 Mosel Zeppwingert Riesling Feinherb

Gernot works 8 terraces here of 100-year-old vines on GRAY SLATE and quartzite SURROUNDING  the Batterieberg. The wine is a pale straw yellow with hints of green. The nose offers exuberant aromas of white peach, apple, melon, candied ginger and wet stone. The plate, though technically off-dry, is dry tasting and decidedly mineral, with a briny, stony core enrobed by ripe orchard fruit and white strawberry flavors with a hint of pithy citrus character that knits with the earthy character on the pungent, palate-staining finish. This is the most overtly mineral of the lineup and displays the most pronounced old-vine character. This has grand potential and is seemingly coiled at the moment. Decant 6 hours ahead if drinking now but better to wait 5-7 years and beyond for the towering structure to knit. Impressive stuff. John McIlwain

Immich-Batterieberg 2021 Mosel Batterieberg Riesling

This wine is sourced from  a 1.1 hectare monopole within the Zeppwingert. The 60-year-old un-grafted vines are planted in GRAY SLATE and quartzite soils on terraced plots, in the drier and cooler portion of the slope. The robe is a pale greenish-yellow. The nose is vivacious with aromas of white flowers, pear skin, white rocks, and a hint of peach. The palate is concentrated and tightly wound on the attack with a flinty attack with white tea, white pepper, and mouthwatering lemon pith notes fanning out on the finish. This is deeply stony and has great verticality with great energy. Delicious now, but could use some cellaring to unwind. Dynamite in a bottle! Giselle Hamburg

Knebel 2020 Mosel Terrassen Riesling

With Matthias’ entry into the VDP in 2016, he felt the need to up the quality at the estate, and this basic riesling is no exception. It used to be sourced from the Terraces, but also parcels upstream in Leiwen. Now this is all sourced from the Mosel Terraces in and around Knebel’s home of Winningen. The wine is spontaneously fermented and aged entirely in stainless. Dry and smoky from the slatey soils, it finishes on a savory note, making it an extremely versatile wine for food pairings. Giselle Hamburg

Kühn, Peter Jakob 2020 Rheingau Riesling Jacobus

An exuberant aromatic bouquet of spearmint pine forest, lemon peel, white rocks, green apple and apricot. Medium-bodied and dry on the palate, but juicy, with flavors of quince and grapefruit, followed by a long, limeade finish with an underscore of slate minerality. A lovely, delicate Riesling. Giselle Hamburg

Kühn, Peter Jakob 2020 Rheingau Hallgarten Riesling Alte Reben

The Kühn Estate has been a cornerstone of Rhinegau wine-making for roughly 230 years and has been passed down through 11 generations. The current generation in place; Peter Bernhardt and wife Viktoria, along with father Peter Jakob,  decided in 2004 to convert and certify to organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking.  As per the distributor;  "Sourced from the single vineyards Jungfer, Schönhell and Würzgarten, the 2020 Hallgarten Riesling trocken Alte Reben combines the higher location of the vineyards with the 40+-year-old, narrowly planted vines that give a particular coolish micro-climate, according to Peter Bernhard. Vinified in 60% stainless steel and 40% large oak casks, the nose is clear, bright, intense and complex in its sexy purity that combines yellow fruit aromas and uplifting, almost floral and ethereal terroir notes. Medium to full-bodied, this is a crystalline and silky, enormously pure and elegant, salty, vital and frisky Riesling with remarkable finesse and piquancy. "

Leitz, Josef 2019 Rheingau Rüdesheimer Berg Kaisersteinfels Riesling

From high above the Berg Schlossberg on the westernmost corner of the Rheingau before the river turns north. Kaisersteinfels is a small all terraced vineyard that Johannes Leitz repaired after purchasing and his favorite of all. Comprised of red slate with quartzite, it produces super expressive mineral wines from it's old vines. Explosive on the nose and palate with citrus, peach and minerality galore with vibrant acidity and an incredibly long finish.  As breathtaking as the view from it's precarious perch!Giselle Hamburg

Materne & Schmitt Koberner 2019 Mosel Terrassen Koberner Riesling

From the steep hills of Weissenberg and Fahrberg overlooking the village of Kobern with very weathered dark blue slate 10 terraces up the hill! Extremely bright and aromatic, with an intense citrusy, saline mineral profile with rich pear fruit. Could definitely be cellared for several years. Giselle Hamburg

Materne & Schmitt Lehmener 2020 Mosel Terrassen Lehmener Riesling

From blue-grey slate with fossils from an ancient coral reef on the lower slopes of the Lay and Ausoniusstein in the town of Lehmen. Always the most firm, precise, herbal and mineral driven of the three village wines. Faint spice with a structured yet silky body. Vivd and racy! Giselle Hamburg

Materne & Schmitt Winninger 2019 Mosel Terrassen Winninger Riesling

From extremely steep terraces and slopes of Bruckstuck, Rottgen, Hamm and Domgarten in Winninger. The soils here are very rocky with grey brown slate with iron, sulphur and quartz. 20% of the juice is fermented in acacia barrels, the rest in stainless. Showing a classic ethereal nose of white flowers, citrus and rocks with a citrusy, saline palate. They think this was their best vintage ever for this wine and drinking well now.  Giselle Hamburg

Meyer, Stefan 2021 Pfalz Riesling Trocken 1L

Hailing from the Pfalz, Germany directly north of Alsace, this is a trocken (dry) riesling of brilliant purity! 30 year old Riesling vines planted to loam and clay soils. Hand harvested and hand sorted. Natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel. Bottled, with one filtration, at 7.8 g/l residual sugar,  Immediate aromas of petrol, kefir lime, white peach and wet rocks blast the nose. On the palate, flavors of limeade and  peach nectar burst with vivid acidity and minerality. Sporting a long, dry yet juicy finish, this is a super refreshing , classic riesling perfect for drinking  pleasure. I'd serve it with grilled swordfish and a veggie medley of zucchini, cherry tomatoes, cipolline onions with a balsamic glaze (last night's dinner pairing!) or a spicy Thai seafood curry.  Giselle Hamburg

Müller, Egon 2015 Saar Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett

Müller, Stefan 2021 Niedermenniger Sonnenberg Riesling Kabinett Alte Reben

Stefan's winery in the Saar has won "Best of" accolades for everything in the past 5 years.  2021 was an astonishing vintage with sizzling acidities balancing ripe sugar levels.  With vineyards in  Niedermenninger and Krettnact, his prized vineyard is this 50 year old parcel of old vines in the south west facing western part of the Niedermenninger Sonnenberg on iron rich red slate soils. The 44 g/l of residual sugar is barely perceptible in this vintage, offering just a finishing kiss with juicy lemon drop, crystalline  acidity and crunchy minerality: truly breathtaking like an aerial trapezist flipping effortlessly through the air!! Giselle Hamburg

Schaefer, Willi 2019 Mosel Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #11

The 2019 Graacher Domprobst Auslese #11 is filigreed and racy for the pradikat, showing all the verve and brightness of the vintage. The nose shows a touch of sponti, but time in the glass reveals pretty aromas of pear skin, orange blossom, peach nectar, and cool mint leaves. There's a delicate honeyed sweetness that dances across the palate balanced by pitch-perfect acidity and waves of luscious stone fruit and citrus flavors with a subtle herbal undercurrent. Framing this is a zesty, mouthwatering stoniness leading to impeccable balance even at this young age. This is already lovely, but this will dazzle when mature in 8-10 years and for decades beyond. An emotionally gratifying wine! John McIlwain

Später-Veit 2021 Piesporter Riesling Feinherb 1 L

This slightly off-dry Riesling really leaps out of the glass with lively stone fruit and minerals. Vivacious acidity gives it lift and is matched with silky, ripe pear on the palate, with hint of texture on the finish. This is a standout value in the 1L bottle . From just above the famous Piesporter Goldtröpchen vineyard, the 25 year old vines hail from three different parcels in Piesport, including Falkenberg and Gunterslay planted to soils of slate and gravel. Wild-yeast fermentation. Elevage in both stainless steel and old Moselfuder. Vinified off-dry at 10% alcohol.

Stein 2022 Mosel Rosé Trocken

Vollenweider 2021 Mosel Riesling Wolfer Trocken

The 2021 village level trocken is a testament to the vintage: electric energy, coiled with a tactile tension of lime zest and sea spray floating above a deeply mineral core with great structure and concentration. Truly epic! GH