J. & H. A. Strub

Nierstein, Rheinhessen
www.strub-nierstein.de

Vineyard area: 16.7 ha (40 acrs) (76% Riesling)
Best sites: Niersteiner Orbel, Oelberg, Hipping and Pettenthal
Soil: red clay, slate,loess, loam and chalk
Annual production: 8,400 cases

Walter and Margit Strub are the eleventh generation running the Weingut J. u. H. A. Strub in Nierstein, Rheinhessen.

Tasting Notes

Niersteiner Oelberg Riesling Spätlese 1996

This wine was offered not long ago at Chambers Street Wines in Manhattan. One of the advantages of subscribing to retail store newsletters is the ability to react swiftly when gems like this become available. In this case, I was told, the wine came directly from Strub's cellar and only a very few bottles were on offer.

The Niersteiner Oelberg is part of the Roter Hang, the red slope with its distinct red-colored slate, which warms up during the day and stores the sun's warmth at night. The soil has also a high mineral content. The Oelberg lies south-east and south, exposing the vines to many hours of sunshine.

The wine had a medium golden color. It showed a developed nose with pronounced honey aromas, ripe apricot, spices and fresh citrus fruit. It was sweet on the palate with medium acidity. The alcohol was very low, yet the viscosity gave the wine a medium body. Pronounced intensity of ripe peach and apricot, minerality and notes of honey. Long length.

Overall a very fine wine. It had elegance and youthfulness. The intense ripeness of the fruit flavors was very elegantly balanced by the minerality. I drank some of the wine just by itself and had some with a dessert of apple crumble. The residual sugar easily handled the apples' high acidity. The wine is ready to drink now but will last for at least another 5 years in bottle.

Niersteiner Paterberg Riesling Spätlese 2005

Youthful nose of peach fruit and orange zest. Sweet, medium acidity. Medium intensity of bitter orange, crushed stone and white pepper.

Exciting sweet/bitter combination. Drink now or keep 10-15 years.

Niersteiner Paterberg Riesling Spätlese 2001

Youthful to developing nose, aromas of mango, apple, citrus and hints of raisins. Sweet, high acidity, medium to full body. Grapey on the palate, pronounced mango, apple, pepper, rose petal and mineral flavours on the mid-palate with a slight spritz. Medium length.

Very good. Has a fine balance of fruit and mineral flavours with an acidity still high enough to lead the wine safely through another 5-10 years.