St. Urbans-Hof Wiltinger Alte Reben Kabinett Feinherb Riesling

This wine was received as a tasting sample.

2015 St. Urbans-Hof Wiltinger Alte Reben Kabinett Feinherb Riesling — pale yellow in the glass with generous aromas of ripe melon, stone fruit and hints of that characteristic Riesling diesel. Complex flavors of tart pineapple, stone fruit and dusty minerality follow along with bright, juicy acidity. The flavors in this light-bodied wine are long lasting and while I would not describe this wine as sweet, there is just a hint of sweetness. Just enough to make you wonder if it is the fruit flavors you are tasting or a touch of sweetness. 10.5% abv. SRP $18

Nik Weis is the current winemaker and caretaker of Weingut St. Urbans-Hof, the winery founded by his grandfather. He takes a hands-off approach to winemaking, intervening as little as possible in the wine cellar, and focusing on quality wine grape production. The SUH Wiltinger Alte Reben Riesling was fermented in stainless steel using only indigenous yeast. The Riesling comes from a south-facing vineyard located along the Saar River, a tributary of Germany’s Mosel River. The vineyard was planted in the early 1900s. Alte Reben, translates to old vines and some of those very old vines remain.

Fragrant, easy to drink and very low in alcohol. What’s not to love about this Riesling? We enjoyed this wine on a rainy evening with baked country-style spare ribs and sauerkraut baked with onions, juniper berries and carrots. Cooked apples on the side competed the delicious meal and the SUH Wiltinger Alte Reben Riesling was the perfect match. If you’re contemplating spicy Chinese or Thai food, reach for a bottle of this Riesling. Or maybe you’ve just finished the yard work on a warm afternoon; this lovely wine will be the perfect reward.

Cheers!