2014 Weingut Spreitzer, Riesling Feinberb, Hattenheimer Engelmannsberg, Rheingau Germany.
While I say you’ll not want to miss any of the Spreitzer 2015’s, sometimes a wine slips past that you might not have noticed at first, but really shines when you catch it by surprise, or catches you, as was the case with Weingut Spreitzer’s Engelmannsberg Feinherb 2014 that I tasted recently at the Slanted Door. The 2015 version is richer and gorgeous in every way, tasted at the winery last October, it’s a fantastic wine, but this 2014 has blossomed too in bottle, leaving it’s wall flower first impression behind it is showing a subtle elegance and grace with a very dry profile, it’s a classy little Riesling and a fine value. With earthy roses, liquid mineral, green apple, mango and peach leading the way this Spreitzer Hattenheimer Engelmannsberg from the upper Rheingau is pure, lively and rewarding with cuisine especially, showing light layers of flavor, crisp acidity and pretty detail. With food and air a nice lime essence shines through along with a crushed quartz/stone, verbena texture and spiced rosewater, this is charming and entertaining off dry stuff that just has the faintest of fleshy sweetness in it’s stylish delicacy and light baring. This is certainly a wine that needs your full attention to pick up it’s complexities and poise, it’s not overt or a show stopper, but it is a graceful and vital Riesling that has improved greatly since my last time tasting it, drink now, best from 2017 to 2025.
($20 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive