Wine & People » Germany » Selbach-Oster

Weingut Selbach-Oster

Vineyard area: 17 ha (98% Riesling, 2% Weissburgunder)
Best sites: Graacher Domprobst, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Schlossberg
Production: 10,000 cases

Founded in 1661, the winery owns some of the best sites in the Mosel region. 98% of the vineyard holdings are planted with Riesling of which many are old, ungrafted vines. Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara run the winery on traditional principles. The grapes are handpicked, with several passes through vineyard. Natural occuring yeasts are used for most of their wines, only for the dry wines cultured yeasts are added in order to guarantee full fermentation. The wines are slowly fermented in large wooden fuder barrels and remain on their lees for additional flavoring.

Selbach also acts as a négociant, buying grapes from other quality-minded producers in the Mosel regions. These wines are sold under the J. & H. Selbach label.

2006

Riesling Kabinett 2006

Youthful nose with a medium intensity of lemon and hazelnut. Off-dry, high acidity. Medium intensity of grapefruit and stone. Medium length.

A picture-perfect Mosel Kabinett: refreshing, slightly sweet, with pure fruit and good minerality.

Very good

Tasted 08/2007

Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken 2006

Medium intensity of citrus aromas with distinct mineral character. Dry on the palate with only hints of residual sugar. Medium to high acidity. Light body. Medium intensity of citrus and mineral flavours.

Refreshing Kabinett with a strong mineral character. The relatively high acidity makes it almost dry on the palate. Excellent with chicken and creamy sauces.

Good

Tasted 08/2007

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese* 2006

Floral on the nose with aromas of peach, lemon and hints of botrytis. Sweet, high acidity. Medium body with a velvety mouthfeel. Medium intensity of peach fruit with wet stone, smoke and very ripe pear.

Great complexity of flavors, exciting minerality and a very pleasant soft mouthfeel. Drink now or keep for 15+ years.

Very good

Tasted 08/2007

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese* 2006

Youthful nose with a medium intensity of citrus fruit aromas and lots of minerality. Sweet, high acidity. Pronounced intensity of stone fruit and minerality. Long length.

Very distinct mineral character. Fruit is still a bit dense. I would wait at least 2-3 years or keep up to 30 years.

Very good

Tasted 08/2007

2005

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Trocken 2005

Youthful on the nose with aromas of thyme and citrus. Dry palate. Medium to high acidity, medium body and alcohol. Pronounced intensity of bitter grapefruit and minerals.

Very interesting herbal aromas. An undeniably refreshing Spätlese Trocken that is very well balanced. Should pair very well with pork and vegetable dishes.

Good

Price: $20. Tasted: 08/2007

Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese 2005

Medium intensity of apricot aromas with an intruiging grapey overtone. Sweet, high acidity. Medium body with a soft mouthfeel. Medium intensity of peach fruit and minerality. Long length.

Very clean fruit flavor and pronounced minerality are wonderfully balanced. Together with the high acidity this should develop nicely over the next 10-15 years.

Good - very good

Price: $21. Tasted 08/2007

Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese 2005

Developed nose with a pronounced intensity of ripe apple, citrus, cabbage. Sweet, high acidity. Pronounced intensity of peach, minerals and apple pie. Very long length.

This is a rich wine with a very smooth and elegant mouthfeel. It should be drunk in its own, after or instead of dessert to fully enjoy the lengthy and complex finish.

Very good - excellent

No botrytis. Tasted 08/2007.

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese "Rotlay" 2005

Aromas of bitter orange and wet stone. Sweet, high acidity. Pronounced intensity of pear, peach and minerality. Long length.

A very refreshing Auslese with sombre overtones. Exciting flavor structure. Drink now or keep 20+ years.

Very good - excellent

The grapes in the Rotlay parcel of the vineyard are always picked at once. Berries of slightly different ripeness and botrytis levels are vinified together to add complexity. Tasted 08/2007.

Bernkasteler Badstube Beerenauslese 2005

Aromas of very ripe peach and cigar. Sweet. High acidity. Medium to full body with a soft but not oily mouthfeel. Pronounced intensity of stone fruit, ripe apple and orange. Very long length.

Very exciting aromas. A joy to drink now but in 10-15 years from now this will be heavenly.

Excellent

Tasted 08/2007

2004

Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken 2004

Clear, pale straw colour w/ wide watery rim. Clean and youthful on the nose with medium to pronounced intensity of apple, pear, lemon and mineral aromas. Although it's a halbtrocken the residual sugar is barely noticable because of its crisp acidity. Light body. Medium intensity of pear and apple fruit, well balanced by the same amount of minerality. Low to medium alcohol. Medium finish.

The crisp acidity intensifies the fresh fruit character but is balanced by the residual sugar. Very refreshing wine with additional mineral character. Drink now but will most certainly keep for at least 5-10 years.

Very good

Alcohol: 11%. Price: $19. Tasted 07/06.

1997

Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese 1997

Medium lemon color with a wide watery rim. Clean, developing nose. Medium intensity of petrol, spices, tropical fruit. Sweet, medium-high acidity, medium-full body and low alcohol. Medium to pronounced intensity of tropical fruit, honey, spices. Medium + length with a fresh citrus finish.

Well-balanced fruit and spice flavours with a solid acidity. Still very young and fresh tasting despite the petrol notes.

Very good

Alcohol: 8%. Price" €22. Tasted 11/06.