Aaron Tan

9.6

Ah! The prima ballerina of Rheinhessen. The precise footwork, elegant gait, and undeniable presence. Usually, she takes centre stage, but tonight, the king of Nierstein has decided to make a forceful announcement during her grand performance - "I will dance instead, and you will love it!" :)

We thought that drinking the 17' Hipping first was a good idea. In hindsight, I'm not even sure why, especially given how the Abtserde was totally eclipsed by it. Nevertheless, the 14' Abtserde was still a great expression of riesling

For me, Absterde is usually the most filigreed and electric of KP's vineyards, but this time, it was showing a more breadth than the typically weightier Hipping. Very powerful with exotic fruits dominating, set on a backdrop of herbs and spice. Concentrated, but in the same vein as the 17' Hipping - new KP in my eyes. I can see why some would prefer KP's older vintages compared to this, which are seemingly more extracted. There's a mineral drive and acidity which really dances on the palate. Admittedly, this finishes a touch hot but nothing to detract from the sheer energy of this wine. It needs time to bring it more balance and finesse I feel. — 7 days ago

Shay A

8.9

Wednesday Wine Committee. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. Blind as usual.

Quite mineral/wet rock driven on the palate, but the nose had the smallest touch of sweetness (like faint lychee), alongside nice acidity. Some of the sweetness reappeared on the finish. Definitely dry in style. Zero petrol. I called this dry German Riesling. — 4 days ago

with Dan and Weston

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Last had this almost a year to the day. Gorgeously mineral and deep nose. So elegant. Pineapple, apple, sweet Meyer lemon, super mineral. Gorgeous perfume. Palate is round and so deep with wonderful almost spherical mouthfeel. Lovely lemony and melony finish with a bit of opulence and palate staining minerality. Outrageous. Fleshy fruit on the mid palate and terrific concentration. Drinking well but has 10 more years ahead of it. — 11 days ago

Aaron Tan

9.9

In the presence of the 17' Schönleber AdL, there should not have been another riesling that outclassed it during the night... But then this appeared. Young as it may be, KP's Hipping approaches perfection. Dumbfounding!

I think Jean and David at MFW described this perfectly, so I'll just leave it here:

This 2017er Niersteiner Hipping GG delivers a beautiful nose where reductive elements including minty herbs, smoke, bacon and needle provide the frame for some glorious scents of grapefruit, tangerine, candied lime, fresh almond and coconut. The wine has the purity and lightness of mountain water yet its complexity and density on the mid-palate are just stunning. One can feel the intensity from the high levels of dry extracts but these are magnificently wrapped into spicy and salty elements. The length and impact in the finish are stunning. The after-taste seems to last for minutes. The wine is almost painfully dry at this stage, but the sheer freshness, intensity and complexity are simply breathtaking. This grandiose expression of dry Riesling may well turn into wine perfection in a decade: It is THAT impressive! — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Pale lemon color with medium+ intensity aromas of floral, stone and citrus fruits with biscuit notes. On the palate this dry wine shows flavors of peach, ripe apple, lemon, apricot, melon with wet stone mineral. Vivid acidity with great mouthfeel on medium+ finish. Very good drink now for optimal freshness. Tasting Sample. — 3 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright straw gold in the glass. Shy nose of quince-y green apple. Firm, bracing acidity (the decanter is your friend) introduces a medium light palate of flinty green apple and dried white flowers. Finish is long, but has a fading character: it fades out gradually. For a long time i thought that German Riesling lost some of its character when it’s fermented dry, and to an extent I still do. Still, there are numerous examples of Trocken that display a character of their own. This is one. Not quite as much as a dry Mosel, but definitely more than in a dry Rhein. Rich terrestrial white wine fare (pork, of course) is a natural pair. — 13 days ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

There's a beautiful lightness to the wines of the Ruwer Valley. When I say this, I guess I am mostly refering to the two legendary producers in the area - Grunhaus and Karthauserhof. Whether this has to do with terrior or winemaking decision, I don't know. Regardless, it is this trademark lightness that keeps me coming back and it's no different here.

The 2016 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhof Riesling Spätlese Nr. 24 Auction is a very fine. From magnum. Light-footed and juicy, super aromatic, leads with ripe stone fruits and pears, complemented by spicy tones of anise and licorice. If I had to nit-pick, it would be that I expected the wine to be a little saltier. Still, it's delightfully complex and scarily drinkable. — 7 days ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

@delectable Felsenberg riesling SPATLESE There is an auslese as well.

Nose is initially lychee. Then turns clean tropical. Palate is amazing. Clean tropical with great minerality. So fresh. Crunchy. Much less heavy than most Nahe dessert wines. Or even most mosel ones other than say muellen. Almost the freshness of a Feinberg crossed with the density of a spatlese. Very different. Having with 7 year old red cow Parmesan. Geek balling. ;-). — 6 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Awesome wine. Dynamite showing. Huge expressive nose of orange rind, wet stone, citrusy jelly, apricot, so perfumed. Amazing. Palate is super complex and so refined with huge mineral intensity and such length to the citrus apricot fruit. So tangy and salty on the finish. Wow. — 4 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Aromas of white flowers and a little petrochemical. On the palate developing fuller flavours with a nice touch of nectarine - great purity. A multi Trophy winner on the Australian Show Circuit. Riesling is another grape varietal very suited to Tasmania. — 8 days ago