From: Mosel, Germany
Varietal: Riesling
Taste: Bright, fresh, and earthy aromas come to the forefront of this wine. Notes of just-picked green apple meet lemon verbena, Asian pear, tangerine, and watermelon rind. On the palate, this Pet-Nat shows off flavors of white peach and pomelo juice right alongside bright notes of lemon curd and verbena, grapefruit, and lemon oil. Bright and easy drinking, this summer fizz comes across like the perfect drink for a warm day by the pool or as an aperitif in the late afternoon.
Pairing: Try this pet nat paired with oysters, sushi, or cheese croquettes (we’re sharing a recipe for Korokke, or Japanese croquettes below). Other great pairings include dumplings, dim sum, Pad Thai with shrimp, and freshly made summer pastas.
Potato KorokkeBy Bryan Washington
About. The story of wine is as old as the hills, but the tale of Selbach-Oster's sparkling Pet-Nat Riesling from the Mosel region has a unique chapter. Tracing back to a heritage of 400 years, the Selbach-Oster family and the wines they produce symbolize the Mosel region's rich history.
For centuries, the steep terrains of Mosel have witnessed the meticulous care and ardor with which Selbach-Oster crafts their wines. Ensuring that the dance between nature and painstaking manual labor produces high-quality Riesling wines has been the family's enduring commitment.
Amidst their expansive vineyards, the Selbach-Oster family cradles a rare treasure. These are the ungrafted vines, some over a century old. The fruits they bear, though sparse, are imbued with intense aromatics. While Riesling occupies a whopping 92% of their vineyards, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir contribute to the ensemble.
The vineyards of Mosel, especially those close to the river, are a perfect tableau for noble rot to play its magic. However, it's essential to note that the Selbach-Oster Above the Clouds Sparkling Riesling Handgefullt Pet-Nat (2021) is an exception. This pet-nat is extremely dry and sees no botrytis. Yet, even without the embrace of botrytis, this wine has depth and complexity.
A pivotal factor that shapes the uniqueness of these wines is the terroir. Nestled in the Bernkastel – Badstube, Graben, the vineyards benefit from the blue Devonian slate. This geological marvel absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night. Additionally, the steep gradient of the terrain enhances the intensity of solar radiation. All these factors converge, ensuring the wines have an excellent acid structure punctuated by a profound minerality.