A Mosel Riesling Trifecta
Hey friends,
You all know my love for great Riesling. And in return, I love how many of you have jumped on that bandwagon too. It's an exciting time for Riesling, and you should look for an expansion in this area as Sébastien begins digging around in Germany and Austria in the coming years. I'm all for it, and I hope you are too!
For today though, a reminder of just how great some of the Rieslings are that come to us from Luxembourg. Remember, this too is the Mosel (or Moselle as it's spelled there), and some of the most famous German vineyards are literally a good 3-wood from one bank to the other.
One of our a-ha! moments of the past year was with the vigneronne Carole Bentz, in her fantastic tasting room in the center of Remich. We came for her sparkling wine* (which many of you also now know) but left with a palette full of Riesling. On offer today is a 3-pack of her best--a fantastic look into Luxembourgish Riesling, and a remarkable trifecta of white wine, no matter what the variety.
Enjoy!
Riesling from Luxembourg's Finest Winery Garden
JoJo Bentz should be the center of this story. Why? Because JoJo is a gardener living in the center of the adorable village of Remich, a Moselle enclave in Luxembourg. Her plot of about 1 hectare is equal parts vegetable and herb garden, topiary, arboretum, picnic area, pond, and event space. It is THE finest bit of landscaping that surrounds any winery we visit. And all of it comes from JoJo, the mother of the young and talented winemaker Carole Bentz.
Even though JoJo demands more ink in the future, today let's talk about Carole instead. I introduced you to her a few weeks ago while talking about her delicious sparkling wine--a wonderful Crémant de Luxembourg that you immediately gobbled up*. But today, our final offer of the summer season is reserved for three Rieslings that are in my opinion, some of the best bottles I've come across this year. They are made and then tasted, of course, right smack in the middle of JoJo's garden. After visiting 6 other Luxembourgish wineries, with mixed results, my two fellow travelers looked at me while tasting with Carole and said something like, "Now we're onto something dude."
I agreed.
Alas, we're here today to talk about Riesling--perhaps my very favorite white variety in the world. And somewhat like the Baur wines from Alsace that we've offered over the years, these Bentz whites bridge a gap between French and German. They feature the high-toned aromatics that one should expect from these varieties--peach, oleander, honey; but on the palate, they are super fine and complex, almost spritely on the tongue, with a lively acidity and freshness. I really appreciate how low alcohol they are as well, considering that YES, they are dry wines.
Here then is a fantastic 3-pack from the cellar of Carole Bentz, three different Riesling, from three different vineyards, but all exhibiting what I'm looking for in this dynamic and ever-evolving grape.
I hope you'll give these all a try as a unit. I think you'll be back. I know we will be!
Domaine Claude Bentz
Moselle Riesling 3-pack
1. Riesling Bech-Mâcher Gottesgôf 2022--"This crystalline and bright looking wine has a golden yellow color coming with green reflections. It gives cause for quiet contemplation while it is being taken in. It carries very delicate essences of white flowers, yellow peaches, and apricots. It has a full-bodied flavor and balance both in acidity and structure. Leaving a complex and lasting sensation, the wine presents a subtle and fruity set of aromas of great and delicious persistence."
2. Riesling Bech-Mâcher Naumberg 2022--"The wine has a quite distinguished yellow-green appearance stressed by silvery reflections. It has a fine and delicate aroma filled with bergamot, white peach, pineapple, and a touch of pepper. The elegant, rich, and mostly implicit taste is impressively long and fresh. This is a generous wine of indisputable finesse combining noblesse and complexity."
3. Riesling Schwebsange Letscheberg 2022--"The wine appears under the mantle of a nice crystalline and shining pale yellow color and green reflections. Primarily white fruits and citrus scents are complemented by delicate notes of pears and spices. The general impression is framed by a mineral nuance. The balanced, fresh, and well-structured taste extends into a beautiful mineral flavor with spicy and slightly empyreumatic notes merging in a good, lasting aftertaste."
Each of these wines is just about 1000 bottles total production. Additionally, it is the first time ever they are available for sale anywhere in the world outside of Luxembourg. How cool is that??