2013 Riesling Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland

Theresa Breuer’s dry 2013 Rieslings are not for beginners. Even though she harvested late, the sugar levels remained low, she told me. In fact, her Schlossberg weighed in at only 11.5% alcohol, making it again one the best of the lighter wines that are now so much in demand in Germany by those who are tired of seeing Rieslings rise to ever higher levels of alcohol. More surprising, though, was the fact that she did not deacidify any of them. Yes, they all sport just a trace of residual sugar, but given their bracing acidity they taste bone dry.

Although these wines are still a touch austere, I admire this cool, refreshing, slatey style of dry Riesling. Further, their track record shows that they will age extremely well, as the 2004s amply proved in the ten years after tasting that we published in January.