I don’t see a lot of high-quality Riesling coming from Italy. Falkenstein’s south-facing vineyards sit just over two-thousand feet above sea level giving them a balance of warming sun and cooling temperatures from the elevation. While Italy isn’t known for its Riesling, this one has all the high-quality Riesling marks you would expect from Germany — petroleum, minerality, tart citrus fruit, a touch of residual sugar to keep the bracing acidity in check, and a Riesling bottle. While already delicious enough, this Riesling would continue to develop nicely in one’s cellar. Buy a few since you will want to show this off to all your wine friends.
Falkenstein, Alto Adige DOC (Italy) Riesling 2019
By Vince Simmon