Beurer's Kieselsandstein is a Riesling that forces you to work on a different wave length.
It's one of the most decisively and mysteriously mineral Rieslings that I've tasted. I'm happy to offer out two vintages of the Kieselsandstein, 2010 and 2012.
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In my mind, this isn't a "value wine," but something that very much stands on its own for all the fascination that it offers. Still, it's impossible not to mention that I can offer two different vintages for right around $20. That only sweetens the deal.
Kieselsandstein is a dry Riesling from Württemberg, a German region that we almost never see in this country. I've drunk countless bottles of this and I am always impressed by what a unique expression of the grape it is.
If you're looking for a wine of intensity and an explosive jam packed mid-palate, you'll likely be disappointed by Beurer's Kieselsandstein. If you're interested in a haunting minerality and ultra-fine precision, then you'll find a lot to be excited about here.
The first time that I tasted the 2010 Kieselsandstein it was part of a tasting of seven or eight wines with the distributor. I remember it being a very solid group of wines, but the Kieselsandstein grabbed my attention immediately. The wine was so beautifully aromatic with a chorus of high-toned mineral notes that I'd never encountered before.
Compared to the Mosel's slate, you're in the territory of limestone and sandstone. Kieselsandstein refers to a poor, red and chalky soil. Beurer's Kieselsandstein delivers insanely clear, nuanced notes of smoke and ground stone along with a polyphony of clean soil tones that you can never fully identify.
Both wines are all about their minerality. Anything else merely serves as an accent. There's a kinetic, chalky textured energy to them that's lovely. Of the two vintages, 2012 shows a more sculpted and denser profile. The 2010 is starting to show some of the complexity that age brings. It's also agile and delivers the minerality that I keep harping on in a very luminous way.
These are wines that I drink often. It's nice that they are priced to allow that. I strongly advise you to take advantage of the special 6-pack pricing. They are brilliant, singular and habit forming Rieslings.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits