St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Trocken 2011

Very tightly wound at this stage, herersquo;s a racy, intense Riesling full of finely etched lime, rhubarb and slate flavors. Be patient, it has all the elements. Best from 2002 through 2008.

Winemaker Nik Weis says, ldquo;There wasnrsquo;t much you could do wrong (in 2007).rdquo; The statement is supported by the high quality of his estate Riesling. Weis sourced grapes for the wine from two areas: 2.5 acres from near the winery in Leiwen, and 22 acres from Witingen in the Saar Valley. Although everything was fermented together, Weis feels this mix balances the richness of the Middle Mosel Riesling with the more austere style found in the Saar.

St. Urbans-Hof is among the top producers of German Riesling, and their basic offering far surpasses other Rieslings at much higher price points. Boasts a bright, mineral-infused nose of citrus and lemongrass; the body is bracingly crisp and sharply balanced. Here is a world-class Riesling at an everyday price, a wine that is perfect for pairing with appetizers and salads or savoring with fresh fruit and cheese.

This is racy and packed with a slate aromas and flavor and a lime accent. Slightly less concentrated than the estatersquo;s 2001, though itrsquo;s very expressive. Drink now.

The generic St. Urbans-Hof 2007 Riesling mdash; this year incorporating fruit from the upper reaches of the towering Laurentiuslay as well as from Leiwener Klostergarten and Wiltinger Schlangengraben mdash; smells pungently of orange zest, sage, and under-ripe apricot. A honeyed cast on the palate mdash; supported by well-judged residual sugar mdash; offers an attractive foil to the winersquo;s pungency and lively acidity. Citrus oil, apricot skin tartness, and wet stone mark the considerable finish of this excellent value, best suited for enjoyment over the next couple of years.

Characterized by mouthwatering acidity and luscious white peach, Granny Smith apple and slate notes. Light and delicate, with a tantalizing hint of sweetness. The moderate alcohol level coupled with the juicy fruit flavors make this wine a winner with savory, slightly spicy dishes such as chicken teriyaki or cajun shrimp, but donrsquo;t pass up a less obvious match mdash; this wine is terrific with omelettes!

Ripe and peachy, with floral notes of tangerine citrus and bright, zesty acidity, this is racy and balanced. A terrific value.