Markus Molitor, Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Goldkapsel, Mosel

Ripe Riesling Tasting (@Weindorf, Kirchheim) : Glass: Gabriel Universal. Opened about 2-3h before tasting. Classic Molitor example: Very well made wine, but I don't like the style... Clear, medium golden color. Complex, deep and balanced nose. On the palate quite complex, bold and dense for a Mosel Auslese. Maybe its the massive amount of flavors that I don't like? This is more Mike Tyson than Ali. Very concentrated and long. Potential for another decade. 92-93

APnr.: 25-08

APPEARANCE: Medium deep yellow-green, absolutely gorgeous colour. NOSE: Fresh peach, ripe pear, floral, mineral, mature petroleum note, honey, marzipan, ground cardamom. Hints of wood, leather and smoke. (92p) TASTE: Grapey, fresh apple juice, citrus (grapefruit, sweet lemon, kumquat), floral, mineral. Initially may feel a little low on acidity due to the intense juiciness of the ripe but fresh fruit (the freshness/acidity was slightly more pronounced and the fruit more focused on day two). Medium body. Elegant and utterly charming. Long …

This is such a great wine! Still youthful and just perfect balance. White stone fruits, a touch of tropical fruit adds some sweetness - but not too much. Great with Thai green curry dish at home. Very refreshing and hard to put down. The low alcohol (7.5%) is an added bonus (you'd think it would be sweeter with such low alcohol, but it's light and lean). Glad I have 2 more bottles.

A very finely grained spatlese. As the Mosel Report folks always remind people, there are three ways to drink fine rielsing: young and vivacious but only hinting at greatness; mid age and nicely developed with less sweetness, then the real regal rielsing: aged and full of complexity, elegance and less viscosity (for most). This is mid age and beginning to display the flowered viscosity, more refined tropical fruits--just a hint really-- and the sweetish but also slightly tart tropical notes. …

Wonderful, showing lots of lemon, honey, papaya on the nose, with a rich honeyed lemon pear filled palate. Good length and balance. Very attractive, easy to drink.

Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $40+ (Bin 75) : Light steely green; lighter candied lime, ginger, mango, some thinning of fruit from the age, slight bit of slate in the background; lightweight like a ballerina, not zingy but pleasantly fresh; good.

A touch on the sweet side, but very nice.

A juicy restrained spatlese that provides delightful, lighter drinking now. Pear, peach, tropical notes in a package that is now balanced. Not the greatness of older Zilliken or Prum, but a good way to go now in a vintage with very nice kabinetts and spatlesen.

This bottle came off a bit unbalanced on the sweet side than the last. Still enjoyable, but I recall more acidity and crispness in the previous one.

Very well balanced. A touch of appropriate sweetness, but with enough acid to keep it interesting. Nothing to dislike here, but not a WOW either.

Love this wine! Lean and light for a Spatlese, but had nice density of fruit, flowers. The sweetness is there but is perfectly balanced with the minerality and acidity. This bottle disappeared quickly (a testament to the refreshing quality) between two of us, without the high alcohol effects.

Rich green-gold hue, light. Over-ripe tropical fruits, a bit of Robitussin and dogwood. Honeyed notes on the palate, some sous-bois and butter. Fullish, round - a little flabby?

Very enjoyable spatlese - not a ton of complexity, but gorgeous high-quality fruit with depth here makes this smooth, with inviting sweetness that's not over the top, and a bit of creaminess to the mouthfeel. 91-92

very good with mild curried chicken. Swet fruit, nice acidity.

nose: very nice and distinct nose of tropical fruits, white fruits, bits of pears and apples, and some real nice underlying tones of minerals and flint taste: young and exuberant lighter feel with excellent medium+ acidity. The tones are very delicious with well balanced notes of pears, white fruits, tart apples, and some real nice underlying mineral notes. The finish really makes you take note as it just seems to nicely linger overall: this took a good 1/2 hour to …

Pale yellow color. Toasted French oak dominates the nose and palate. Tastes of pear, melon and apple with some petrol notes. Solid finish however I fail to see why Wine Spectator is so in love with this wine. Decent value at $22/bottle. A.P. No. 2 576 609 25 08. 7.5% alcohol.