The fourth day of Christmas sees another mixed case, also in need of self-assembly, of the first releases on La Place de Bordeaux from three of the very best German Riesling producers, says Colin Hay. Format: An unusual seven-bottle mixed case containing: 1 bottle each of Schloss Johannisberg’s Kabinett Orangelack and Trocken Goldlak; 1 bottle each of Dr Loosen’s Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett, Grosses Gewächs and Auslese; and 1 bottle each of Weingut Gunther Steinmetz’s Wintricher Geierslay Kabinett and Piesporter Treppchen Grosses Gewächs. Unique selling point: In difficult market conditions these first releases on la place all performed extremely well, which actually makes your true love’s task in sourcing these wines today, certainly at anything close to their release prices, rather tricky. Yours for: Again, there’s quite a lot of potential work to be done here to acquire some of these wine, certainly for anything approaching their Bordeaux release prices. But some quick homework suggests that a mixed case like this can currently be assembled for around €500, duty and tax paid. Tasting notes: Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Kabinett Orangelack 2023 (Rheingau; 100% Riesing; 1200 bottles; barrel-pressed with vinification in steel and just 6 months of oak aging). A wine that has not been commercialised since the 1980s. There are just 1200 bottles, as for the other cuvée. This is the top Kabinett of the estate. Pure. Clean. Precise and focussed. A lovely tension between the sucrosity and the searing acidity. Mandarin rind and zest. A little floral honeyed note, saffron
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine