2011 Weingut Monchhof, Riesling Urzig Wurzgarten, Spatlese, Mosel Germany.
The “Monks House” estate, Monchhof, dates back to about 1177 and the underground cellars go back to around 1509, but the modern winery owned by the Eymael family started in 1804 only 210 years as time goes! That is a long and storied history, but it is the current generation and one Robert Eymael that has elevated this estate to new heights of quality and style, much the same way he has done at his sister estate J.J. Christoffel, both being some of the finest wines made in the Mosel, along with Selbach-Oster and Schaefer. The 2011 Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese made by Herr Eymael is a lovely and sumptuous Riesling that delivers loads of generous fruit, juicy acidity and crystalline mineralite. Impressively balanced and accessible even it’s youth this first class Riesling with certainly entertain and intrigue for many many years to come, and it is a stunning value in it’s price class. The Monchhof 2011 Spatlese starts with tropical essences, citrus flowers, wet river stones and honeyed peach leading to a welcoming palate of pineapple, candied lime, apricot and forceful citrus fruits along with ocean/brine, steely notes and a great play between succulent sweetness and zesty acidity and added elements of basil, ripe melon and spiced apple. The finish is crisp, finely detailed and mildly sweet making this a wonderful choice with spicy asian cuisine, or smoked meats, pork especially, but also I can see it being a great summer white. This is looking like a perfect wine to cellar for a few years too, but hard not to indulge in now, drink from 2014 to 2022.
($30 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
avail at www.sfwtc.com ($29.95)