One Singularly Perfect Riesling. That is all.
Today is a day to focus. One guy, one grape, one wine.
You know that old game, "if you were stuck on a desert island..."? My answer would be Riesling. Hands down. No question.
I know there are others of you out there too. But not enough. That's why I'm throwing the gauntlet down today with a remarkable bottle will either a) confirm for you what you already know, or b) open your wine-loving world to something wonderful and new.
A singularly perfect bottle of Riesling.
This isn't the first one of these I've found. There have been A-HA! moments in Alsace, Austria, Germany (of course), Luxembourg, Canada, and yes, even Oregon. This one comes from the very north of Italy though, in the autonomous region of Südtirol, and only 30 minutes south of the Austrian border near Brenner. It's up there and out there, man.
If I ever wanted to grow up in the wine business, and start a small winery, I'd do it just like Richard Tauber has. He has everything packed into a small office/light industrial space within walking distance of the center of the village of Brixen, one of the most charming Alpine villages you will ever visit. He makes just 3 wines there, in a winery the size of many living rooms, and from grapes he farms himself from the steep hillsides in the Eisacktal valley.
From the first smell and sip of Richard's Riesling, you are transported there, and should probably get busy searching hotel deals on booking dot com. As my friend Aramis put it when were there, "I'm never coming back to this place. Because I'm not leaving."
I could go on, but like the soft-spoken Richard, it's better if I let the wines speak for themselves. Snag some while you can!
Weingut Richard Tauber
Richard quit his day job in 2013 following a successful career in milk. That's right. From the dairy sector to the wine business. In terms of a clean winery, there are no equals. His looks like a surgery room.
He claims he spends 80% of his year among his vines, a splendid collection of Riesling, Sylvaner, and the local Kerner--and the rest dedicated to making flawless wine, getting it into bottle, then hoping some dudes like us will continue to come around.
For you today, 8 cases of his supremely wonderful Riesling. You can't go wrong with at least a 3-pack.
Weingut Richard Tauber Südtirol Eisacktaler Riesling 2022
The wine that doesn't exist at Weingut Tauber. Richard makes just about 1800 bottles per year. You all know my affinity for this grape. Well, here might be one of my favorite versions ever--a complex, rich, yet fine Riesling, that you'll just want to smell and smell and smell. And then you'll taste it and it will be game over.
Yes, it's a dry wine. Completely and totally. Aromatics tend toward orange peel, white peach, and a little shave of ginger. It's got wow factor from top to bottom.