Alfred Merkelbach, Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel

takes a bit of coaxing, nose is beautiful, reminiscent of apple pie, orange rind, fruitcake mouth - also a bit shy, but lovely, less nervy than most kabinett, flavors are of baked apples, and pears, quite delicate, with a finish reminiscent of fresh Springbrook water. with age the sweetness has faded. though my instinct is to say I like them younger, this was unique and fun to try at age 13.

Pop n pour. Now 1h after opening. Aromas of minerals, tart apples, unripe pineapples, minerals, herbs, and a hint of petrol. Palate w ripe apples and just ripe pineapple mild petrol, minerals. Medium body w nice acids. Lacks a bit of concentration and depth. Still delicious. 91+

Lovely ripe exotic fruit, pear, sweet lime, floral. Refreshing acidity, generous sweetness but still light and balanced. Great value!

Complex, with sweetness but lovely dry minerality.

The German Crush Tour; 10/8/2017-10/16/2017 : spicy, rich with a bright mid, excellent ginger and spice on the finish. bright and delicious already. (with 40g of RS and 7.5 of acid - it feels light and bright) I can drink this all day.

Tasted over the course of a week, and it did not budge one bit. I always hear tales about German Riesling holding form or improving over a long period, but have rarely experienced it. With this Kabinett I have to think it comes from the firm acidic spine. This is brilliant, bracing and invigorating, with zesty lime juice over peach skin tones that are supported by underripe strawberries and mineral water. I do not yet catch the Wurzgarten spice, but …

Easy drinking, slightly spritzy, and good value.

Off-dry, very structured and aromatic. Very good accompaniment to dumplings and sauces with chilies. Delicious.

Zak and Seth's Excellent Merkelbach Adventure (Umi Nom (Clinton Hill, Brooklyn)) : Tasted blind against the Kinheimer Rosenberg Kabinett. More subdued than the other Kabinett: herbal, chalky with minerality and soft citrus. Some spice. Very mineral on the palate with peach, lime - tart - very dusty and flinty. This is good, but #1 (The KR) is showing better - not only that, but the KR also seems to have better focus and more lively acid. Is the UW in …

Tasted double blind. Beautiful crystal nose - slate, grapefruit, passion fruit. Light and airy. Lemon and lime on the palate, minerals. Crisp, but not perfect acid. Nose - 4.5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 15.5/20.

This is where the 100-point ranking system breaks down. How do you score a virtually perfect Mosel Kabinett? 100? 97? I've settled for 93 because one assumes you save the higher point scores for more "serious" wines. That being said, this wine invokes awe and gratitude for the skill and devotion that went into the winemaking. A perfect wine from a great year. Upon opening, it seemed tight and not especially forthcoming. It wouldn't surprise me if it now went …

A light and airy, quaffable style, on the drier side but not without sweetness of character; good zip and really elegant. Very lime, apricot, and mint in profile.