Von Othegraven Maria v. O. Saar Riesling Kabinett 2005

Classical elegance, pure ripe fruit, and subtle minerality are the watchwords of von Othegraven's lovely Saar offerings. The 2005 Maria v. O. Riesling Kabinett possesses all of the Saar's finest attributes, including an amplifying nose that is redolent with the essences of ripe apple, pear, and quince. Add a nice balance of acidity and a touch of mineral from the estate's noble terroir, and the bouquet of the 2005 Maria v. O. reflects the complexity as well as the charm of the greatest Saar Rieslings. On the palate, the same stony, pinpoint essence of the Saar meets soft, natural fruit. All of this luscious goodness continues to unfold for hours after opening. The charming 2005 Maria v. O. finishes just off dry with a caress and an easy hand, which lend themselves to another glass, and another glass, and . . . How sweet it is! Enjoy the 2005 Maria v. O. moderately chilled about 45° F.

As an off dry Riesling, the 2005 Maria v. O. provides the perfect pairing for an eclectic group of foods. Aside from the many traditional tried and true Riesling pairings, such as grilled fresh water fish or light charcuterie, we also endorse the Maria v. O. with tapas and more complex seafood dishes with a twist. Green Tipped New Zealand Mussels in a Tamatillo sauce are just one such example. We are, also, fond of the Maria v. O with stir fries and delicate tempuras. Prosciutto, served with either sweet cantaloupe or honeydew melon provides another opportunity for this wine to shine. An assortment of soft cheeses makes for a most pleasant evening with Maria v. O. as well. And of course, a Riesling as fine as the 2005 Maria v. O. makes for an outstanding aperitif. This Riesling exhibits plenty of flavor and subtle nuance to hold our attention, unlike many New World Rieslings, which seem to need food by virtue of their flab or jarring acidic edge. Enjoy!

The Maximilian von Othegraven estate dates back to 1804. However, intensive high quality viticulture in Kanzem, the present site of this domain, can be traced back even further to 1500. Today, Dr. Heidi Kekel, the niece and goddaughter of Maximilian von Othegraven, owns and runs this extraordinary property. With the passing of Maximilian and Maria, his widow, Kekel is the heir to the throne, and what a job she has done. Moreover, the glorious 2005 vintage has provided Kekel with all the material she needs to craft extraordinary wines. In Germany, it is widely acknowledged that there are two great wine regions for the noble Riesling varietal, the Mosel and the Rhine. However, in sunny vintages such as 2005, the Saar is acknowledged to be the best part of the Mosel. At Kekel's von Othegraven estate the electric, stately elegance of the Mosel reaches its apogee. From one of the steepest and few great south-facing slopes above the Saar that is protected from the cold north wind, Heidi Kekel produces wines of supreme elegance, finesse and flavor. Possessing 13 of the 50 acres of the great Altenberg vineyard, Kekel is unquestionably the region's leading grower. Von Othegraven's Maria v. O. is named for Heidi Kekel's aunt Maria, and if the wine that bears her name even slightly resembles that grand lady, what a winsome, scintillating, crowd pleaser she must have been. In addition to the delicious Maria v. O. Riesling, Kekel also fashions several other show stopping wines from the ancestral Altenberg estate as well as fine Ockfener Bockstein and Wiltinger Scharzberg Rieslings from nearby sites.