Richter Riesling at l'Ecrivain
Steep Mosel vineyards.
The Riesling grape reaches its apogee in Germany’s Mosel Valley where, when handled skilfully, it produces wines of unparalleled excellence. Their signature is a thrilling electric charge of acidity that keeps even the sweetest nectars free of saccharine cloy, and bestows on all styles the ability to age and develop for decades. A noted master of the Mosel is Dirk Richter of Weingut Max Ferd Richter and he will be presenting a selection of his wines, matched to appropriate dishes from the able hand of Derry Clarke, at l’Ecrivain Restaurant, Dublin on Tuesday, 10th May.
Dirk Richter.
I have had the good fortune to visit Richter in the Mosel on a couple of occasions and each time I came away with a much enhanced understanding of the Riesling grape in all its many manifestations. In short, he is one of the most articulate and thoughtful winemakers I have ever met, eschewing sweeping generalisations in favour of precisely crafted statements of fact. His wines speak eloquently too, none more so than a Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese 1997 drunk recently. With only 8% alcohol it made the argument effortlessly that a wine does not need to be heavy and strong to leave a big impression. Great Mosel Riesling is delicate yet intense. It is a ballet dancer not a weightlifter.
More details: www.lecrivain.com
