2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Riesling Trocken, Munsterer Kapellenberg, Erste Lage, Nahe Germany.
The seductive and vibrant dry Munsterer Kapellenberg Erste Lage (VDP Premier Cru) 2015 from Kuger-Rumpf is one of beauties I got to taste with Georg and Stefan Rumpf at the winery in October, and though I don’t think it was imported as of yet, I thought it was too good not to mention. This gorgeous Riesling was a sleeper in the lineup and as is good as the Grosses Gewachs at this stage, it is a flamboyant and powerful wine with about 13% alcohol, it has body and is briskly dry showing wonderful texture, extract and mineral with vivid yellow, white and tropical fruits. Georg Rumpf was kind enough to show me around his vines and wines during a busy day of harvest in the fall of 2016, and I was honored to eat lunch with the family and crew at the Rumpf house in Bingen, after tasting an amazing array of 2015 wines, as mentioned before I lucked out that I was visiting Kruger-Rumpf the day after Robert Parker’s Stephan Reinhardt had been there and almost all of the wines he tasted I got to sample as well! Along with 2001, 2006 and 2010 selections was this 2015 Munsterer Kapellenberg 1er Cru Trocken, and it really stood out, Georg’s 2015 are stunning, all of which deserve mention and attention, so even though I’ve chosen this wine in particular, be sure to search out his latest set of wines including his fantastic Scheurebe and the glorious Dautenplanzer(s) dry and sweet! Kruger-Rumpf made some great wines in the difficult 2014 vintage, many of which are still available and drinking great young, but Georg really hit a home run with these 2015’s are the wines reached new heights for this artisan winery in the Nahe, and the new labels look great as well. The pretty golden hued 2015 Munsterer Kapellenberg grown on a mix of grey slate, loam, quartz and sandy soils is steely and saline rich, but with heady rose petal perfume along with a rush of mixed citrus, tart apple, pineapple, summer melon, fleshy peach/apricot and mango fruits as well as oyster shell, tea spices and liquid stones. With air a density fills the palate and it has an almost tannic character, but remains pure, focused and juicy with plenty of elegant charm and poise, this is stylish dry Riesling. The Kruger-Rumpf wines are all compelling, I admire each and everyone from dry to sweet, and as I have mentioned, do not over look the Kabinett, Spatlese and Auslese wines from Kruger-Rumpf, they are truly must have wines along with these glorious dry Trockens, especially if you want to cellar some, they are also great values, considering too, they age 20 to 30 years, getting better with each year and or decade! Thanks again to Georg and his family for such a great visit, I can’t wait to return, and if you can’t find the Munsterer Kapellenberg in the states, look for the Estate Trocken and especially the Dorsheim Trocken!
($28 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
