In German, “alte reben” means “old vines” and that’s what the source of the grapes in this riesling. It comes from a 22 acre parcel in the Schlangengraben vineyard which was established in the early 1900’s and some of the vines date to that time. It’s along the banks of the Saar river, a narrower river than the Rhine and a cool climate region.
The soil in the vineyard has rich iron content, which the winemaker credits for the mineral smokiness of the wine. Whatever the source, it’s fabulous!
The aromas are super interesting on this riesling. It’s very herbal, evoking images of a field of wildflowers and herbs. There’s also a smoky quality which comes from the grapes themselves versus from barrels, as this wine was fermented in stainless steel. And finally there is some fruit on the nose too, mostly lemon and peach. It’s quite dry on the palate and delivers tangy green apple, peach and lemon flavors along with some smokiness. The acidity is spot on. The mouthfeel is smooth. It finishes with lingering lemon, herbs and smoky flavors.
Wine: Nik Weis St. Urbans Hof, Wiltinger “Alte Reben”
Variety: Riesling
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol: 10.5%
Rating: 90
Price: $18.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
