Well finally, a 2001 German Riesling that didn't do much for me.
$9.99
Color-pale yellow, clear
Aroma -of lemon, brine, and grapefruit.
Flavor-fairly straightforward, with cooked apple, red grapefruit, and almost smoky like pear. Prominent acid almost tart may be slightly too much for this medium body Riesling. Sweetness is simple and subdued with more mineral character, perhaps more traditional.
This tasted better and relatively similarly the first day over the next two, something I haven't found in other 2001's.

88 pts. QPR-B. It was flawless, just nothing special. At its' price, just fine. All things considered though, at this level much prefer the Erbes U-W Spatlese for $1-2 more.

The Rheinhessen makes mostly pedestrian wine. So far only the Niersteiner Paterberg from Strub is the only decent one from this region that I've tried. IMHO there is a pretty big difference between the Mosel and Rheinhessen regions and between the Urziger Wurzgarten vineyard and the Niersteiner Hipping vineyard.

Agreed, GATC.

At $10.00, nothing ventured, nothing lost (or gained). As I noted, the first less than cellarable 2001 Riesling tried. Rovani gave that Seebrich an 89, but with much more glowing descriptors, which I couldn't detect or correlate. I disagree, FWIW. At 88, I was generous. It is very good the 1st day, but nothing special. The key detractor was it was worse the next day...not a good sign. An 88-?

I have 1 Strub N-P(from Vino Me) as well and may pop that one to compare.

Supposedly, this region did much better in 2002.

As I iterated earlier, my thanks to you and Vino Me, for timely introducing me to a varietal that I had previously little (and little enjoyable)experience with. And, also thanks to Stemor and Vino Me for securing me top wines at at least good prices. Rovani is correct, though, when he suggests that at a minimum some 2001's should be tried by all enophiles as an example of the best of breed in this varietal. Even if I never buy any more German Rieslings ever again, the ride this year has been worth it. Especially surprising, when considering from someone not fond of white wine in general.

Seebrich is a generally pedestrian producer. Strub is ahead by miles.

There were plenty of fine wines made in the Rheinhessen in 2001, but mostly from the top producers. The "bargain bin" stuff was not as good as it was in say the Mosel.

All that being said, the 2001 Strub Niersteiner Pettenthal Riesling Kabinett is an outstanding drink for $11.

Unfortunately all that's left on the shelves is the bottom end stuff.

And FWIW, Strub made good wines in 2002, but nothing like the 2001s. THey are very good, byt VERY different.

DrT, if you get hooked on this stuff and want to try some of the better 2001's, tell me. I still have over 40 cases and I'll be happy to send you some at cost if you find a preference.

I'm going to a tasting of Theise's 2002's next week.