Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Auslese trocken is pure, precise and flinty on the coolish yet intense and concentrated nose that displays classic Riesling aromas with white rather than yellow fruits. Beautifully reductive. On the palate, this is a lean, straight, fresh, elegant and just-ripe Riesling with a rather austere character due to the vital and tightly knit acidity. It is surely not everyone's cup of Riesling, but the wine has substance, grip and tension. The character is reminiscent of the pre-global warming era. This will never develop into a sex bomb. 12.5% alcohol.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
This sunny and relatively dry region served for many years as a German tourist mecca and was associated with low cost, cheerful wines. But since the 1980s, it has gained a reputation as one of Germany’s more innovative regions, which has led to increased international demand.