In my last riesling review for Louis Riesling I mentioned how seeking rieslings from Germany would increase the likelihood that the riesling you buy is good. Well, within German wines Mosel is a region you’ll see often. It’s the third largest region in the country, but seems to be the most prominent region internationally. It’s best known for its riesling, which tends to be high in acidity and typically offers pronounced floral aromas. And if you know anything about German geography, you can probably guess that the region runs along the Moselle river.
Coming from a region that has a long history with winemaking, and a region where many wine producers have a heritage spanning centuries, Clean Slate seems rather contemporary. Its positioning has nothing to do with a long-standing family history. Instead it has been given a name that is a fun and rather modern play on words. The label design also stands out from other German riesling as being a bit more modern. But that break from tradition doesn’t mean they’ve sacrificed at all on quality.
The nose on this riesling is quite nice. It offers aromas like lemon, bath salts and rose with moderate intensity. And when I say bath salts, I don’t mean some crazy drug that makes you eat someone’s face off, I mean the stuff you put in your bath. It’s a combination of mineral and floral fragrances.
The palate brings even more excitement with a vibrant tart-yet-slightly-sweet flavor profile. It features tart apple, peach and lime flavors with outstanding acidity. It finishes with a touch of salt, a touch of lime and a touch of peach. This is a solid wine and an exceptional bargain!
Wine: Clean Slate Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 10.5%
Rating: 89
Price: $10.00
Find Clean Slate Riesling with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.