Thanks to Stemor for bringing this along.

This was a recent cellar release from the estate, and as such displays the characteristics of perfect storage. Golden color, an effusive nose of baked apple (brown sugar, butter, warm apple) and a touch of cinnamon spice. This is more old Riesling than Urziger Wurzgarten, but even as old Riesling it still has great refreshement value & a substantial palate feel that's silky and mouth filling.

If asked to guess the age I would have figured it as an '83 or so. Remarkably well preserved, and still showing some of its original sweetness. The leftovers held up in the fridge until Sunday night (Lots of open bottles I'm trying to finish off...) with no loss of character.

If you are lucky enough to have some of this, don't serve it too cold, as that saps away the flavors. Have it just below cellar temp to let the spice and warm apple elements show at their best.

1975 Benedict-Loosen-Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)

Tasted at an offline so brief comments only.

Opened and served immediately in restaurant stems without decanting. Clear and light straw in color. Typical födel nose albeit very light for such an aged Riesling. Nose also gave way to some apricot and fresh cut flowers. Flavors of peach and apricot, soft and fruity. Mild tannins and acidity say “drink me baby, I’m ready”. Outstanding wine. My WOTN.

Nice note, except that I do not get your mention of tannins. Having tasted this wine (and many other old Germans) there are not even any skin tannins from excess extraction. I'm not sure where you are coming from.

Honestly curious.

Maybe I should have phrased that "indiscernable tannins". Probably a better descriptor? First time for this wine and I have no knowledge of its' history.

I would hope there would not be any tannins. Riesling does not generally impart notable skin tannins except in flawed winemaking.

This bottle of wine is always popular. Last night I opened another one at an offline, bringing me down to only three bottles remaining -- ojeffso, if you find any more gems like this, please think of me!

At an offline last night with Shaferguy, Maxy, Latour67, and a friend, Carol and I brought this and a '96 Beaux Freres. The latter was very disappointing, but the Loosen was rockin' as usual. It went perfectly with Lobster Bisque, which was exactly the pairing that I had envisioned for it.

The usual golden color and petrol nose were on display, as was the smooth minerality and perfect balance between receding sweetness and moderating acidity. Of the ~16 bottles of this that I bought, I've never yet had a bad -- or disappointing -- one.

I just saw my last bottle (of the 2 I got from you, Steve) of this today when I was moving my cellar. From what I remember of the bottle I opened (last year at Thanksgiving) the wine was youthful and didn't appear to be fading at all. Based on the bottle you opened last night, do you still think that's the case?

nice to hear stemor. i have two bottles left. i have seen some other vintages floating around from the 1980's.

David, I think it's perfectly mature and does not NEED to be held any longer, but I also don't think it's in danger of going over the cliff any time soon, either.

ojeffso, I'd be interested in picking up some of those '80's, assuming it's the same store and roughly the same pricing.

By the way, this wine started an interesting discussion amongst the small group last night, as usual ... people saying "I didn't realize a white wine could go thirty years", and "This really makes me rethink about Riesling", among other comments. Exactly the sort of "A-HA!" moment I had when ojeffso first introduced me to these (and led me to a store with a stockpile of them, for which I am eternally grateful ).

will get back to you with what is available.

With all of us who have good cellars and bought heavily in 2001 (among other years) there are going to be a lot more "A-Ha" moments in the years to come. Great wines from great vintages that have been well stored will come out and more than likely blow these '75 Benedict Loosen wines away. Winemaking is better now, winery hygiene is better now, and vineyard management is better now. All that is going to lead to some monumental spatlese and auslese drinking some 20 years or more down the road.

I agree, RF, which is why I'm so excited. I don't have as many as you, but I do have about 190 German Spatlesen/Auslesen from 2001 and another 200 from 2002. I figure that '02s will mature first and capably, then the 01's will eventually make me forget about how good the 02's were.

I'm hoping that Carol and I can enjoy these with a nice lobster bisque, while we talk with our kids about THEIR kids.


By the way, RF, which vintages from the '80's would you recommend as drinking well now (or expected to soon) at the Spatlese pradikat level? I'm thinking mostly MSR here, but I'd like some Pfalz and Nahe reference points too.

From well stored bottles (critical with wines from the '80s) I have really enjoyed both spatlese and auslese from 1983 (especially Grunhaus), a few late release 1982 Prums that came out a while back, and the '89s are drinking well, but loaded with botrytis.

The 1990s are drinking exceptionally well at the spatlese level right now. Auslese is just starting to come into its own. A real treat is the 1990 St. Urbans-Hof Wiltinger Schlangengraben Riesling Kabinett that I was able to buy in New Jersey last week. It was reecntly sent over from the estate. Delicious stuff, if a bit pricey for kabinett (the cost of such a late release).

Thanks for the info!

Stemor, this wine was just beautiful in my opinion. In fact, I was the one who said "this wine makes me rethink about riesling." The nose is just as Stemor described giving off a bit of petrol. What I found most interesting about this wine was how in balance it is. It had perfect acidity and residual sugar not being over the top with sweetness. Almost a bit of drynes to it. I love this stuff!