A few other Rieslings (and a rogue Rieslaner) enjoyed before and after Rieslingfeier -
1994 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett
This is all about cut and lightness. Pale, fresh Mosel fruit flavours over a vividly stony base and gentle herbal and mature savoury/creamy accents, all conveyed on a lightweight frame with gentle sweetness and fantastic acidity that keeps it so precise and vibrant.
1971 Schloss Eltz Rauenthaler Baiken Riesling Spätlese
Rather disappointing given the reputation of the site and vintage. Intensely rich and sweet (still) with ripe orange, peach and apricot flavours tinged with mature honeyed and burnished notes, but it comes across rather heavy and monolithic without the acidity, vibrancy or freshness that I'd expect.
2004 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Spätlese
Spectacular. I'm amazed how well this is showing right now, and I really wish I had bought a few more bottles. Pure, vibrant red fruits, limes and peaches up front tinged with developing creamy and smoky notes, and then there's a wash of stone and mineral salts on the back end. The balance here is stunning with bright acids balancing the sweetness perfectly, and just absurd length. Just a fantastic Spätlese. (I opened this as a warmup for Rieslingfeier the night before - definitely got me in the mood for more Riesling.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
2011 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Steinertal
Solid, but never spectacular - this just feels a bit too broad and ripe, some of the fruit flavours here are in the tropical end of the spectrum and it doesn't have that focus or clarity that I look for in great Riesling. I wouldn't be surprised if this turns into something much more impressive with time once the fruit and baby fat recedes some, but right now it's not particularly impressive and even a couple of hours of air don't help much.
1998 Müller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Schlössel Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese
Nothing new to add to my earlier experiences with this wine. This remains one of the most mindblowing sweet wines I've ever tasted. It's packed with ripe apricot and tropical fruit and plenty of botrytis, but at the same time that fiery, high toned Rieslaner spice still comes through and the balance is stunning - it's intensely sweet and concentrated, yet there's blazing acidity beneath and absurd length. Just in case I needed a reminder that Hans-Günter Schwarz was a magician.