URSUS FINE Riesling List 2021 – Major Blind Tasting and Ranking
August 24-25, 2023
Initiated and funded by URSUS Wineries
Presented and hosted by FINE
From August 23 to 25, 2023, we initiated, together with "FINE - Das Weinmagazin," our second exclusive blind tasting of dry German Rieslings from the 2021 vintage, sourced from "Grand Cru vineyards," at the Hotel Kronenschlösschen in Eltville-Hattenheim. An international expert jury selected the top ten from a wide array of wines, representing the elite class of dry Grand Cru wines.
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The initial tasting of the 100 candidates was divided into ten flights, each featuring ten wines, serving as the starting point. Afterward, the points from all jurors—up to 100 could be awarded—were collected. In the semi-finals, a second tasting of the top 20 wines from the first round was conducted. The ten best wines from this tasting were then advanced to the final, and only after this stage was the identity of the bottles revealed.
"The 2021 Rieslings showed an impressive level of quality in the blind tasting. This exceptional vintage, which is already praised today for its cabinet wines and noble sweet representatives, also convinced all jurors in the dry segment. Particularly, the top 10 wines are true communicators of their origin, elegance, and longevity. These are wines that will need a few more years to fully unfold their potential and are on par with the aging capacity of the great red Bordeaux," explains Jasmin Bähr, Managing Director of URSUS WINERIES and former sommelier.
"We are now looking back at the second great Riesling tasting that we were able to organize with the trading house URSUS WINERIES. Those who know me are aware of my special love for German dry Riesling. I am very proud to say after this tasting at the Hotel Kronenschlösschen in the Rheingau: I am now certain that Germany makes the best white wine in the world," says FINE publisher Ralf Frenzel.
This year, there will again be an exclusive wine case with the top-awarded wines for sale.
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The Top-Ten Wines of the RIESLING LIST 2021:
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2021 Bürgstädter Centgrafenberg Riesling GG Rudolf Fürst, Franken
2021 Nieder-Flörsheimer Frauenberg Riesling GG Arno Göhring, Rheinhessen
2021 Forster Ungeheuer Riesling GG Mosbacher, Pfalz
2021 Scharzhofberger Riesling GG Vereinigte Hospitien, Mosel
2021 Schloss Vollrads Schlossberg Riesling GG Weingutsverwaltung Schloss Vollrads, Rheingau
2021 Scharzhofberger Riesling GG Van Volxem, Mosel
2021 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG Weingüter Wegeler Mosel, Mosel
2021 Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling GG Robert Weil, Rheingau
2021 Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling GG Nik Weis – St. Urbans-Hof, Mosel
2021 Dittelsheimer Kloppberg Riesling GG Winter, Rheinhessen