Stephan Reinhardt über Wegeler Jahrgang 2021

Wegeler's Rheingau estate

2021 Riesling Loess trocken Rheingau

Rating

89

Drink Date

2022 - 2037

The former Rheingau Riesling token comes with a new name: 2021 Loess trocken, which indicates the predominant soil type of the vineyards in Oestrich-Winkel and Geisenheim. Based on the fruit from several top vineyards that all have a less mighty loess layer on top, the nose is clear, fresh and precise, rather coolish and with quartzite notes rather than pure loess. Round and savory on the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied, pure, fresh and juicy very elegant dry Riesling that was predominantly vinified in stainless steel. The finish is savory and well structured and reveals a perfect Riesling to have with food, especially fish. 12% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Oestricher Riesling trocken

Rating

90

Drink Date

2022 - 2035

The 2021 Oestricher trocken, until 2011 marketed as Lenchen Kabinett trocken, is a blend of fruit sourced not only in the Lenchen but also the Doosberg. Predominantly vinified in stainless steel until May of this year, the wine shows a clear and finely flinty bouquet of bright, elegant Riesling fruit. Good depth. Round and fruity on the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied, intense and saline dry Riesling with remarkable power on the finish thanks to the chaptalization to 12.5% stated alcohol. The wine is straight, firm and stimulatingly salty and thoroughly mineral in its performance. A very good Rheingau classic. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2020 Rothenberg GG

Rating

94

Drink Date

2026 - 2050

The Geisenheim 2020 Rothenberg GG is clear and very pure on the nose that reflects the quartzite and iron-rich, stony terroir of the steep grand cru where Wegeler holds nearly six hectares with vines up to 50 years old. Porridge notes intertwined with lemon-scented notes of crushed red stones on the pure, fresh and refined, very complex nose lead to a full-bodied, very elegant and refined palate with crystalline, saline acidity and a generous texture. The finish is vital, dense and very long. The Rothenberg was aged in stücks and partly underwent malolactic fermentation, which gives it a round and pleasant texture. This is a serious long-distance runner that already tastes stunningly well, but it can be kept for at least 20 years. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2020 Riesling trocken Geheimrat "J" Rheingau

Rating

95

Drink Date

2027 - 2060

Produced since 1983, the 2020 Rheingau Riesling trocken Geheimrat "J" is a top dry Riesling that assembles the fruit from these grand cru vineyards: Geiseheimer Rothenberg, Oestricher Lenchen, Doosberg, Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland and Berg Roseneck. Predominantly vinified in stainless steel for about eight to nine months, the assemblage is made in late spring. Bottled a year ago, the 2020 opens with a clear, refined and elegant, deep, dense and lovely complex bouquet of bright fruits with notes of crushed stones and herbs (mint). Intense and seriously structured, this is a full-bodied, complex and sustainably saline dry Riesling with ripe, elegant fruit and remarkable finesse. The finish is very long, intense and persistently salty. A spectacular dry Rheingau classic or the Rheingau's too-long-overlooked answer to Trimbach's Clos Sainte Hune. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2016 Riesling trocken Geheimrat "J" Rheingau

Rating

96

Drink Date

2022 - 2050

The 2016 Rheingau Riesling trocken Geheimrat "J" shows a beautifully intense and complex, finely flinty/mineral bouquet of ripe white and yellow fruits und crushed stones. Super elegant on the palate, with intense, ripe and concentrated but also lush and elegant fruit, this is a highly complex, sustainably saline and tensioned Riesling with great expression and finesse. Stimulating and persistently saline on the finish, the 2016 is perfect to drink now. Luckily enough, the wine has just been put back on the price sheet. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2011 Riesling trocken Geheimrat "J" Rheingau

Rating

95

Drink Date

2022 - 2045

The intensely yellow-colored 2011 Rheingau Riesling trocken Geheimrat "J" shows the opulence of the vintage and opens with intense mango and tropical fruit aromas intertwined with very fine notes of crushed slate. Powerful and rich on the palate, this is an opulent and mouth-filling, very fruit intense and elegant Riesling with a long, intense and concentrated finish that reveals fine tannins and lingering saline acidity. A fabulous, quite powerful Geheimrat "J." 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Riesling Berg Rottland Spätlese

Rating

95

Drink Date

2035 - 2070

The 2021 Berg Rottland Spätlese is clear, deep, savory and earthy on the nose that reveals clear, bright and elegant, flinty-scented fruit with crushed slate aromas. Round, lush and saline on the palate, with crystalline and saline acidity and beautiful transparency, this is a delicate, highly finessed and persistently savory Spätlese with a sustainable finish. A great wine—in 10 years at the earliest. 8% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Riesling Rothenberg Auslese

Rating

96

Drink Date

2022 - 2070

The 2021 Rothenberg Auslese offers a concentrated, spicy and savory bouquet of crushed blue slate aromas (slate is not present in this terroir, though) intertwined with candied lemon aromas. Beautifully intense and juicy on the palate yet with this inimitable savoriness, this absolutely fabulous Auslese is based on perfectly botrytized grapes. A spectacular, persistent wine. 8% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Riesling Rothenberg Trockenbeerenauslese

Rating

98

Drink Date

2035 - 2100

The golden-colored 2021 Rothenberg Trockenbeerenauslese, of which no more than 100 liters were selected during five days, offers a concentrated, initially volatile bouquet of bergamot and concentrated apricots with dashes of blood orange juice, candied orange peels and lemon chutney. Rich and highly elegant on the palate, this is a remarkably finessed and saline, stimulating, savory and salivating TBA that is based on botrytis fruit picked at 210° Oechsle (average). This is a dense and concentrated, viscous TBA that is remarkably digestible, even at this young age. This is seriously sweet but shows an elegance and finesse that is absolutely stunning. 6% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

Wegeler's Mosel estate

2021 Riesling Slate trocken

Rating

88

Drink Date

2022 - 2030

The 2021 Slate trocken offers a clear, pure, fresh and savory bouquet of white fruits and very fine slate aromas. On the palate, this is a delicate and round, juicy and savory Riesling with a good finish. It's quite powerful for the vintage but still delicate and with typical slate features. Aged on the full lees until February. 11.5% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Bernkasteler Riesling trocken

Rating

90

Drink Date

2022 - 2032

The 2021 Bernkasteler trocken offers an intense and aromatic, very elegant as well as flinty bouquet with deep and spicy notes. Full-bodied, fresh and savory on the palate, this is a frisky but elegant and serious dry Riesling with a long and mineral, saline and crunchy finish. 11.5% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2020 Doctor GG

Rating

95

Drink Date

2025 - 2060

The 2020 Doctor GG offers a pure, fresh and spicy, intense and complex bouquet of ripe, yellow-fleshed fruits with iodine slate notes and pineapple aromas. Full-bodied, refined and rich on the palate, this is a crystalline, saline and very elegant Doctor with round and almost lush fruit and a very long and tensioned finish. Far too young to be enjoyed today, this is a promising wine to be aged for three or more decades. This 2020 shouldn't be opened before 2025. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Riesling Lay Kabinett feinherb

Rating

91

Drink Date

2022 - 2032

The 2021 Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett feinherb shows a deep, refined and elegant, finely flinty bouquet with notes of crushed slate. Lush and refined on the palate, this is an aromatic and saline Lay Riesling that doesn't show anything of the 2021 raciness but is a very well-balanced and digestible Kabinett at this early stage. 10% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Doctor Kabinett

Rating

93

Drink Date

2022 - 2050

The 2021 Bernkasteler Doctor Kabinett offers an intensely aromatic, reductive and elegant bouquet with flint stone notes. Lush and savory on the palate, this is a mouth-filling, very elegant and frisky Doctor with a long and aromatic, playful yet serious, crystalline and saline finish. It's a gorgeous wine for now and the next two or more decades. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Doctor Spätlese

Rating

94

Drink Date

2027 - 2060

The 2021 Bernkasteler Doctor Spätlese offers an intense and elegant, finely flinty and crystalline bouquet of well-concentrated, almost caramelized fruit and crushed stones. Lush and round on the palate, this is a savory, saline and stimulating Doctor Spätlese with frisky acidity, lots of energy and an almost erotic elegance. It is weightless but intense in its fruit and mouthfilling yet so delicate at the same time. A gorgeous wine indeed and provided with a salivating finish. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August 2022.

2021 Doctor Auslese

Rating

95

Drink Date

2028 - 2070

The 2021 Bernkasteler Doctor Auslese offers a clear and finely citric bouquet with clear, ripe and concentrated fruit aromas intermingled with flinty notes of crushed stones and spicy (passion fruit) pips. Round, lush and saline on the palate, this is a frisky but generous, stimulating and savory Auslese in a hedonistic style. It's not opulent, though, but rich and elegant and uplifted by vibrating slate plates and this beautifully crystalline 2021 acidity. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted from the 375-milliliter bottle in August 2022.