2015 Weingut Leitz, Riesling “Dragonstone” Rudesheimer, Rheingau Germany.
The 2015 lineup at Leitz is an amazing set of wines, especially pleasing is the feinherb/QbA (slightly off dry) style Dragonstone Riesling, which has a bit more body than a Kabinett, from the Rudesheimer Drachenstein with it’s quartzite and slate influence and terroir driven style, slightly drier in style in 2015. Basically the Dragonstone has tightened it’s belt and got into fine shape, but remains very quaffable, fresh and joyous. Johannes Leitz is one of the most dynamic personalities in the wine world and his wines are the standard of top quality in the Rheingau, and his vineyard manager Markus Roll has brought a new dry style approach to most of the wines even adding a few more Trockens to the lineup, this refinement has made the Dragonstone a bit more vital and vigorous, a touch less plush/sweet, without losing it’s unique charm, open/forward fruitiness and opulent nature. The grapes that go into the Dragonstone come from Premier Cru sites in the Drachenstein, this wine isn’t just about the fabulous label of marketing, it delivers way above it’s price point and walking these vines and tasting it at the winery reconfirms it. The 2015 Dragonstone has vibrant lemon/lime, tangy green melon and yellow peach fruits, mineral intensity, a hint of flinty saline as well as spiced rosewater and zesty tropical fruit. The palate is firmer than years past, but with nice depth and mouth feel, still one of my all time favorite value wines and a very lovable Riesling for all seasons and cuisines, after visiting the winery this year I’m even more impressed than ever! At 10% alcohol it is more severe and leaner in body, but still with enough RS to be generous and flexible with a wide array of cuisine options. With a sense of place and playfulness, no wine has done more to expand Riesling into the mainstream of wine drinkers over the last five years than the Leitz Dragonstone, and it continues to set standards for fun, value and quality, this 2015 is really a winner, drink now and often!
($20 Est.) 91+ Points, grapelive
