Marcus Hofschuster is Editor-in-Chief and Lead Taster of Wein-Plus, a leading European on-line wine guide, based in Germany. Marcus Hofschuster is the man behind the reputation that Wein-Plus has gained over the past 2 decades. All wines are tasted blind. Marcus Hofschuster uses the 100 points scale.
From time to time, Marcus Hofschuster summarizes his tasting results in a "BEST OF" list. This time, he published a list summarizing his tasting results with regard to Dry German Riesling from the 2015 vintage.
Introduction
Marcus Hofschuster provided an introduction in German, which you find below, following my translation into English:
2015 it was not easy for "Kaffeesatzleser" (people who make statements without sufficient information). At first the worries were great because of the great drought in the summer, but the reactions after the first tastings were all the more euphoric.
After tasting many hundreds of wines, the following can be said for he dry German Rieslings 2015: There is plenty of reason for joy and enthusiasm, but not always and everywhere. Sometimes the acids are reminiscent of 2010, some wines seem rather hard, almost green, but also tannic.
The majority, however, is very well done, sometimes better than ever before, often not quite as juicy as 2014, but even more solid, deeper and more complex.
One thing is especially noticeable: more and more producers are mastering the art of real concentration in their wines, which does not come at the expense of subtleties, that is, what makes first-class and above all great wines.
Well over 1000 dry German Rieslings were tasted this year, of which we can only present the very best here.
2015 machte es den Kaffeesatzlesern nicht einfach. Erst waren die Sorgen wegen der großen Trockenheit im Sommer groß, dafür waren die Reaktionen nach den ersten Proben um so euphorischer.
Nach vielen hundert Proben lässt sich für den trockenen Riesling im Land sagen: Es gibt durchaus reichlich Anlass zur Freude, ja auch zur Begeisterung, aber eben doch nicht immer und überall. Manchmal erinnern die Säuren an 2010, einige Weine wirken eher hart, fast grün, dazu immer wieder auch gerbstoffrau.
Die Mehrheit aber ist sehr gelungen, manchmal besser denn je, oft vielleicht nicht ganz so saftig wie 2014, dafür noch fester, tiefer und komplexer.
Eines vor allem fällt auf: immer mehr Produzenten beherrschen die Kunst echter Konzentration in ihren Weinen, die nicht auf Kosten der Feinheiten geht, also das, was erstklassige und vor allem große Weine erst ausmacht.
Weit über 1000 trockene deutsche Rieslinge wurden heuer probiert, von denen wir hier nur die allerbesten vorstellen können.
BEST OF Deutscher Riesling trocken 2015
96 to 98 Points
98 Nussbrunnen GG, Ress
Ress
95 Points
95 Uhlen “Blaufüsser Lay” GG, Heymann-Löwenstein
95 Treppchen GG “Alte Reben”, Dr. Loosen
95 Brunnenhäuschen GG, Wittmann
95 Rothenberg GG “wurzelecht”, Kühling-Gillot
95 Felseneck GG, Schäfer-Fröhlich
95 Auf der Ley GG, Emrich-Schönleber
95 Saumagen GG, Rings
Dr. Loosen
Wittmann
Kühling-Gillot
Schäfer-Fröhlich
94 Points
94 Morstein GG, Wittmann
94 Berg Rottland, Breuer
94 Wisselbrunnen GG, Barth
94 Burgberg GG, Diel
94 Kupfergrube GG, Schäfer-Fröhlich
94 Scharzhofberg GG, van Volxem
94 Domprobst GG, Dr. Loosen
94 Uhlen “Laubach” GG, Heymann-Löwenstein
94 Pettenthal GG, Kühling-Gillot
94 Pechstein GG, von Winning
Barth
Diel
Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller and Caroline Diel with Anouk at a Previous Visit See: Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Van Volxem
von Winning
93 Points
93 Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Ruck
93 Schlossberg GG, Castell
93 Juffer-Sonnenuhr GG, Fritz Haag
93 Prälat GG “Alte Reben”, Dr. Loosen
93 Goldtröpfchen GG, Haart
93 Altenberg GG, von Othegraven
93 Röttgen GG, Heymann-Löwenstein
93 Volz GG, van Volxem
93 Marienburg “Rothenpfad” GG, Busch
93 Gräfenberg GG, Weil
93 Jesuitengarten GG, Bassermann-Jordan
93 Ungeheuer GG, von Winning
93 Kirchenstück GG, von Winning
93 Meerspinne im Mandelgarten GG, Christmann
93 Rothenberg GG, Gunderloch
93 Hipping GG, Kühling-Gillot
93 Kirchspiel GG, Wittmann
93 Hermannshöhle GG, Dönnhoff
93 Steinberg GG, Gut Hermannsberg
93 Kupfergrube, Gut Hermannsberg
93 Stromberg GG, Schäfer-Fröhlich
93 Halenberg GG, Schäfer-Fröhlich
93 Halenberg GG, Emrich-Schönleber
93 Pittermännchen GG, Diel
93 Marcobrunn GG, von Oetinger
93 Berg Schlossberg GG, Ress
93 Berg Schlossberg GG, Wegeler
93 Rothenberg GG, Wegeler
Clemens Busch
Robert Weil
Christmann
Dönnhoff
von Oetinger
92 Points
92 Sonnenuhr GG, Wegeler
92 Juffer GG, Fritz Haag
92 Ohligsberg GG, Haart
92 Goldberg GG, van Volxem
92 Marienbusch “Falkenlay” GG, Busch
92 Schonfels GG “Faß 11”, Lauer
92 Saarfeilser Marienberg GG “Faß 13”, Lauer
92 Kirchberg GG, Heymann-Löwenstein
92 Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Wirsching
92 Kronsberg GG, Wirsching
92 Stein GG, Bürgerspital
92 Centgrafenberg GG, Fürst
92 Schönhell GG, Barth
92 Berg Roseneck GG, Leitz
92 Berg Schlossberg, Breuer
92 Nußbrunnen GG, Georg-Müller-Stiftung
92 Jesuitengarten GG, von Buhl
92 Kieselberg GG, von Buhl
92 Kieselberg GG, von Winning
92 Grainhübel GG, von Winning
92 Grainhübel GG, Bassermann-Jordan
92 Pechstein GG, Bassermann-Jordan
92 Idig GG, Christmann
92 “C.O.”, Battenfeld-Spanier
92 Zellerweg am Schwarzen Herrgott GG, Battenfeld-Spanier
92 Pettenthal GG, Gunderloch
92 Ölberg GG, Kühling-Gillot
92 Zehnmorgen GG, Sankt Antony
92 Frühlingsplätzchen GG, Schäfer-Fröhlich
92 Felsenberg GG, Schäfer-Fröhlich
92 Felsenberg GG “Felsentürmchen”, Dönnhoff
92 Goldloch GG, Diel
Lauer
Bassermann-Jordan
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