Stein 2005 Bremmer Calmont Riesling Spätlese trocken

This bold Riesling comes from Calmont near Bremm in the Mosel valley, one of the steepest vineyards in Europe. It is pale golden in color, but that shouldn't let us think that we are about to taste a timid Riesling. Very herbal (tarragon) on the nose, the aroma primarily boasts ripe apple. This Spätlese is dry ("trocken") on the palate and has a crisp and nervous acidity. The alcohol level of 12% feels and is quite low for a dry Spätlese.

The flavor profile is bold: marzipan, dark chocolate and orange peel. And the minerality in this Riesling can literally be felt on the tongue. It extends through a long length.

I opened this Riesling too soon. It smells and tastes already quite developed, but at the same time this 2005 Riesling is so young and full of electricity that it would have benefited from two or three more years of settling and balancing its energies in the bottle. Luckily, I have another bottle in my cellar and I am going to hold on to it. Which doesn't mean that the 2005 Bremmer Calmont Spätlese is not ready to drink. It is. I just think that it will become even much better.