2015 Weingut Donnhoff, Riesling Kabinett, Oberhauser Leistenberg, Nahe Germany.
The delicate and slate influenced Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett should not be overlooked in Donnhoff’s amazing 2015 Rieslings, it is not as showy as the super sexy Spatlese and Auslese offerings or as vital and intense as the Trockens, but it is an awesome wine and seriously one of the great values in the wine world. Finding words for the Donnhoff 2015’s is rather more difficult than you’d imagine, these exceptional Riesling are some of the finest wines I’ve tasted in my lifetime, period, and they should go on to be legendary in the years to come! To get an idea on just how good and fine these wines really are at this young stage you need not look father than this gorgeous Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett with it’s beautiful detailing and finesse highlighting the quality of vintage and terroir, it is loaded with fresh fruit, mineral and persistent acidity and depth of extract, but does it with grace and lithe, almost feline instill if you can grasp my meaning. The classically slightly off dry Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett starts with a light and magical perfume of white flowers, flinty spice, tropical notes, a hint of earthy brine and clove with a sense of green fruit before a lovely seamless energy filled palate races toward your senses with green apple, tangerine, lime blossom, apricot and pineapple along with liquid mineral, distilled rose petals, wet stones, minty herbs, dried ginger and creamy melon sorbet. You can feel the density, though not heavy, with faint sweetness perfectly matched by acid and saline with glorious length, but it’s vibrancy and lightness of touch makes for an elegance that is rarely reached in a wine in the this price class, though more and more common in Donnhoff’s wines! This is a pleasure filled joy to drink, even now, and it should age 10 to 15 years with ease, for quilt free quaffing, you should stock up on this Kabinett while it’s still available, and for serious cellaring do not miss the Brucke, Kirschheck and Krotenpfuhl Spatlese and Auslese, as well as any and all Trockens from the Estate to the Grosses Gewachs from Felsenberg, Dellchen and of course the Hermannshole! Everything Donnhoff is thrilling in this vintage 2015, do not miss any, and for a bargain and balanced complexity be sure to find some of this Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett!
($28 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
