WTN: Theo Minges Riesling

[Jim Grow]

This wine from the Gleisweiler Holle vineyard and a Spatlese 2003 was in perfect condition and at peak now but with a great future. With light straw color and a nose and palate of peach and apricot, the acidity was fabulous and balanced out the obvious sweetness. With an abv of %10 and a Parker score of 87 and drink by 2010, I think he was wrong on both counts as it would score 90-92 by me and still be very much alive in 2018. Wish I had more.

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting.

I've had several 2003 Minges wines, but never found them quite as interesting as your bottle. I do like Minges as a producer though, and wish I had more opportunities to taste through the range.

[Dale Williams]

Interesting.

I've had several 2003 Minges wines, but never found them quite as interesting as your bottle. I do like Minges as a producer though, and wish I had more opportunities to taste through the range.

David, who brings in Minges? Don't really recall ever seeing at retail.

[David M. Bueker]

Theise/Skurnik.

Unfortunately they rarely show more than a couple of the wines at the big NYC event, which is one reason why I've never bought a ton.

[Bill Hooper]

Theise/Skurnik.

Unfortunately they rarely show more than a couple of the wines at the big NYC event, which is one reason why I've never bought a ton.

Understandable, but it's a shame. I've been to that event and realize that there is only so much space and that the available space is given primarily to producers who are in attendance (or other headliners -Terry and his crew can't be expected to run 30+ tables). The Catch 22 is that those producers who don't sell much wine in the US find it difficult to divert resources and time to what is perceived as a market which is not very enthusiastic about the wines they make (those being overwhelmingly dry) while they remain extremely popular at home. The Pfalz, for example is the #1 German Weinbaugebiet for the domestic market -even at the high-end, the Mosel is a very distant 5th, but the Mosel topples the Pfalz (and the rest of Germany) for export sales. The general perception from every region is still that the US and Britain aren't interested in dry Riesling. I don't think that this rings true anymore, and expect that the next few years will see an exponential rise of dry German Riesling in those potentially large export markets. I think that this is the perfect time for the Wineries in the Pfalz and other regions to get their acts together and get to know the trade and consumers in the US and showcase the wonderful wines that are so popular here. We'll see if that happens. Nevertheless, I encourage everyone to actively seek out producers like Minges and Messmer (both from Theise), who have never made better wines and who both deserve recognition not only for the value-stuff, but for the flagship wines as well. The Minges Froshkoenig Riesling (I prefer the Trocken version) is one of the the great German Rieslings, and a fraction of the price of the usual suspect GGs.

Cheers,
Bill

[Jon Leifer]

Dale: We occasionally see Theo Minges at Retail in upstate NY(Siberacuse area),,Pwerhaps Zachy's, Posner or Yorktown might carry the line or be able to get some for you

[Andrew Bair]

Hi Jim -

Thank you for the interesting note. Glad to see your positive impression since I have one bottle of a 2003 Minges Hölle Spätlese Goldkapsel that I am cellaring. Incidentally, I have no notes on any 2003s by Minges.

Overall, I like the Minges wines - in the Boston area, we see a few Minges Rieslings around here at Marty's and a couple of other places, although not from every vintage. Never seen the Fronschkoenig (sp?) yet. Most Boston area retailers seem to be less keen on the Pfalz than they are on the Mosel and the Nahe. I am still kicking myself for not having bought a Minges Muskateller that I saw at Marty's a few years ago, given that I have not seen one anywhere since.


Jon - Although I spent a couple of years in Syracuse in the mid-200s, I don't recall seeing anything from Minges back then. I am interested to know what your go-to places for German wines are in your area. There was one place east of Syracuse that had a good selection, but I can't remember the name.

[Jim Grow]

Glad to see there was some interest in the Minges wine. That was my last one and they will be impossible to aquire again I fear. My favorites from Minges were the Scheurebe.

[David M. Bueker]

I've had chances to try Minges trockens, and agree with Bill that they are well done. He also makes some interesting Gewurztraminer.

[David Mc]

Addy Bassin's MacArthur Beverages here in DC sells Minges.

I had the 2007 Theo Minges Burrweiler Schlossgarten Spatlese last fall and it was outstanding. That may be the only bottle they sell though ...

[Dale Williams]

thanks David (and Jon et al). I've never really looked for Minges, but will put on my radar. My German buying is most limited to about a dozen producers I trust- Donnhoff. JJ Prum, Selbach Oster, Zilliken, Leitz , Willi Schaefer, Schafer-Frohlich , R. Haart, Schloss Lieser, Von Schubert/MG, Adam, etc

[Jon Leifer]

Andrew: I suspect that place "East of Syberacuse" is the same place as my" go to" source for German wines, Limestone Liquors in Manlius..Dave has long been "the guy" in our area re German wines

I am not a fan of the trocken style rieslings and that holds true both re German rieslings and those rieslings made in the dry style in the Finger Lakes as well

[Andrew Bair]

Andrew: I suspect that place "East of Syberacuse" is the same place as my" go to" source for German wines, Limestone Liquors in Manlius..Dave has long been "the guy" in our area re German wines

I am not a fan of the trocken style rieslings and that holds true both re German rieslings and those rieslings made in the dry style in the Finger Lakes as well

Jon- Yes, that is the name of the place. I can vividly picture the inside of the store, but just couldn't remember the name.

[Jon Leifer]

Andrew: If you are ever in the area, please give me a headsup, I live in Manlius, a little over a mile from Limestone Liquors

[Andrew Bair]

Andrew: If you are ever in the area, please give me a headsup, I live in Manlius, a little over a mile from Limestone Liquors

Jon - I don't have any immediate plans to be out in central NY, but will get in touch whenever I do head out there next time.