If you’re an American that drinks German Riesling, it’s because of Johannes Selbach. As the winemaker and owner of Selbach-Oster, Selbach makes profound and affordable German Rieslings. Because they aren’t showy or extreme and instead lean towards moderate levels of alcohol and residual sugar, the wines are overlooked by reviewers that prefer a more bombastic style. Sure, Selbach could make more opulent wines and score higher points—but he’s not one to cave to trends. As a result, the wines are useful at table. You can drink his delicate and soulful Spätlesen and Auslesen wines with your main course, not just dessert, and you’d be shocked at how flexible the bone-dry GGs and ethereal Kabinetts are.
But Johannes Selbach’s excellent style of Rieslings is not why he could be considered the ambassador of modern German wines. In fact, Johannes is the modest and humble tastemaker behind US importer Terry Theise, one of the most important American figures in the modern revitalization of interest in German Rieslings.
Selbach connected Theise to multiple estates as Theise built his portfolio, such as A.J. Adams and Vols. He even took over production at Merkelbach when the elderly brothers retired without heirs. Selbach-Oster was one of the first estates Theise imported, and, as evidenced in the legendary Terry Theise catalogues produced while he worked with Skurnik, Johannes Selbach was an essential advisor and a dear friend.
Chez Vinopolis, we have worked directly with Johannes Selbach for many years. The selections have varied with the vintage: we’ve picked up a pallet or two of Selbach-Oster wines, we’ve carried wines he personally tasted and selected at the Bernkasteler Ring auction (more a showcase of estate’s top wines than an American-style auction), and sometimes we’ve loaded up on underrepresented producers he admires such as Prinz, Karlsmuhle and Kees-Kieren.
The wide array of Selbach-Oster wines we have in stock were hand-picked for our shop by Johannes Selbach himself. These are his treasures, what he wants to share with you. We’re proud to offer them and excited to present them to you on our three-day sale.
“There are no wines along the Mosel more honorable than those of Selbach-Oster. They are grounded, honest, intelligent and meaningful – like the family who produce them. Where wine is concerned I trust Johannes as I trust very few other people. He’s not only highly intelligent, he’s also smart and judicious. He has found his path. His wines have identity and purpose.” -Terry Theise, 2009 German Catalogue (emphasis in original)
“Like many of the other contemporary top producers of the Mosel, its vineyards have grown dramatically during the past decades to its present 50 acres/20 hectares, but unlike many of them Johannes never succumbed to the temptation to increase the sweetness of the wines to please the critics.” -Stuart Pigott in “The Riesling Story”
10% off any 12+ or more in-stock Selbach-Oster wines
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Discount ends Saturday, February 10th at 9 am Pacific
“I recommend buying what’s available from Selbach-Oster now” –Stephan Reinhardt, writing on the 2019 vintage
“If you had to sum up Selbach’s wines in just a few words they would be ‘brilliant, complex, classic, and balanced’. These are classic wines both the way that they taste (balanced and less “sweet”) and in the way that they’re produced; grapes are gently pressed at low pressure; the juice settles by gravity and is then fermented in naturally cool cellars at low temperatures, predominantly in traditional oak Fuder with wild yeasts.” –Skurnik Wines
In Stock and On Sale Now from Johannes Selbach:
Selbach-Oster Graacher Domprobst Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $45, that’s $42.75 at 5% off and $40.50 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 95 points “Expansive yet very precise, exotic-fruit nose. Powerful and concentrated, though only medium-bodied, with so many subtle mineral and exotic-fruit nuances. Very long finish. Drink or hold.”
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $44.50
Selbach-Oster Schlossberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $37.50, that’s $35.63 at 5% off and $33.75 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points “This has the mandarin and yeasty aromas from long fermentation, but with some aeration, mirabelle and quince notes develop. A powerful dry wine that retains the classic Mosel vitality and crispness. Long, intense mineral finish. Better from 2021.”
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $21.90
Selbach-Oster Estate Riesling Feinherb, Mosel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $17.50, that’s $16.63 at 5% off and $15.75 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Selbach-Oster Rieslings are not ‘Zeitgeist’-trendy wines that change according to the whims of fashion. Nor are they ‘made’ according to a recipe. Though they are deeply delicious, they do not seek to ‘seduce’ with short-term exotic aromas from specially cultured yeasts, aromatic enzymes or ice-cold fermentations. They are true characters, wines with structure, wines that display their heritage, rooted deep into the slate rock like our old vines – many of which are still on their own vitis vinifera roots.”
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $28
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken comes from Estate holdings mainly in the Himmelreich (90%) as well as Schlossberg (10%). It offers a beautifully refreshing and light nose of white peach, apple, mint, herbs, anise, and spices. The wine develops good presence and the intensity of a Spätlese on the palate and leaves a nicely herbal and spicy feel in the surprisingly assertive but very satisfying finish. This is a serious Village wine to age and enjoy. 2023-2029”
“The 2019 Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett trocken is bright yet intense and ripe on the nose yet coolish, refined and even floral, with some flinty notes of crushed slate. Piquant, lush and straightforward on the palate, this is a quite intense and charming Kabinett with a certain power and richness but just 12% alcohol and concise acidity.” – Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $18
J & H Selbach Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $14, that’s $13.30 at 5% off and $12.60 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Purchased fruit from the one of the “Grand Cru” vineyards of the Mittelmosel. Though this is a not strictly a Selbach-Oster estate wine, we’re happy to include this wildly underpriced single-vineyard Kabinett in our sale, making it quite possibly the best value in German Riesling in our shop.
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $29
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $22.50, that’s $21.38 at 5% off and $20.25 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty on the pure, elegant, terroir-driven nose. Piquant and crystalline on the palate, this is a crunchy and crispy, well-concentrated and nicely phenolic Schlossberg with juicy fruit but a crystalline and refined finish. Very long and stimulatingly salty. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
John Gilman 92 points “The 2019 Schlossberg Kabinett from Selbach-Oster is really a very pretty example of the vintage, but this is more Spätlese in terms of weight and breadth of shoulder than classical Kabinett. However, this takes away nothing from the charm here on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely blend of white cherry, white peach, a touch of wild yeasts, a refined base of slate, bee pollen and a topnote of apple blossoms. On the palate the wine is medium-full, complex and nicely filigreed, with good acids, fine focus and grip and a long, complex and very nicely balanced finish. Think of this as a hybrid between Kabinett and Spätlese, but with personality to burn! 2020-2040+.”
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The next best price is $27.99
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2020 Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett offers a bright yet intense and finely flinty, very delicate bouquet of bright fruits and crushed/weathered slate. Lush and round but vital and bright on the palate, this is a highly delicate and saline, well balanced and juicy picture-book Kabinett. Superb! 9% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.”
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $26, that’s $24.70 at 5% off and $23.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2021 Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett is bright and pure on the elegant and refined nose that shows bright slate and fruit as well as herbal aromas. Lush and piquant as well as saline on the palate, this is a playful and juicy, classic Kabinett with a stimulating finish. 8.5% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in July 2022.”
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $33
Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is very clear, pure and flinty on the intense, elegant, crunchy and slatey nose. Salty, piquant and lush on the palate, this is a crystalline, pure and salty Badstube that is juicier and rounder than the 2018. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 90° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (69 g/l). It offers a very delicate and nicely perfumed nose of white flowers, rose petal, vineyard peach, apple, laurel, and herbs. The wine proves delicately juicy and refined on the smooth and slightly juicy palate and leaves a delicate sense of lightness in the more fruity-styled than really sweet-tasting finish. This is a joyful and remarkably easy-drinking expression of Spätlese. 2027-2044.”
Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96-97 points “The 2021 Zeltinger Himmelreich Auslese Anrecht opens with a very clear, intense and smoky bouquet of crushed rocks with flinty and iodine notes as well as nutty and yeasty ones. Full-bodied, lush and intensely mineral on the palate, this is a pure and elegant but juicy and refined Auslese with a long, crystalline and saline, well-structured finish. Good tension, grip and length. It’s a superb Riesling of the vintage and certainly a long-distance runner. Natural cork. Tasted as a sample at the domaine in July 2022.”
Terry Theise note “Anrecht, while equally steep and also on a perfect southern angle, has the deepest subsoil of broken slate mixed with organic matter (humus) and loam. It is further away from river and village compared to Rotlay and Schmitt, hence a tad cooler but nonetheless excellent.”
Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95-96 points “The 2021 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese Schmitt exhibits a very clear, coolish and piquant bouquet with concentrated white (stone) fruit and crushed stone aromas with some hints of caramel. Very delicate and finessed on the palate, this is a piquant and saline, crystalline and playful Auslese in a digestible sweet style. The finish is crunchy, crystalline and slatey, which gives iodine flavors and lots of tension that uplifts the richness of this promising beauty. Tasted as a sample ready to be bottled in July 2022.”
Terry Theise note “Schmitt is almost as steep at Rotlay, and also has a perfect southern exposure, but a deeper subsoil of crumbly, broken slate mixed with organic matter and loam. The vineyard is farther back from the Mosel and gets less of the river’s cooling effect. Instead the warmth radiated from the village houses and church beneath warm the vineyard (a privileged situation akin to that of Bernkasteler Doctor.)”
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The next best price is $72.99
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is very clear and intense, provided with very fine raisin and flinty aromas. Lush and crystalline on the palate, this is a salty-piquant, juicy and razor-sharp yet delicate Auslese with great finesse and precision. A highly promising wine. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2019er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese was made from fruit harvested at 104° Oechsle and fermented down to noble- sweet levels of residual sugar (109 g/l). It proves quite reserved and restrained at first, and needs a couple of minutes in the glass to reveal some refined and perfumed scents of whipped almond cream, white flowers, orange blossom, candied grapefruit, and anise. The wine is beautifully creamy and dense on the palate, and leaves a focused and zesty feel in the well-delineated and remarkably persistent finish. This is a beautiful Auslese in the making. 2029-2069.”
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Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese * 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $45, that’s $42.75 at 5% off and $40.50 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2019 Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Auslese * is deep and concentrated on the still reductive, flinty and stony nose. Piquant, racy, dense and rich on the palate, this is a laser-sharp, salty-piquant and crunchy Auslese with concentrated lemon chutney notes and lingering salinity and grip. It is stunningly precise and like an ice wine because everything is concentrated due to the perfectly clear and clean botrytis. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese * comes from a parcel of old un-grafted vines in the Bernkasteler Graben situated next to the Bernkasteler Doktor and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (117 g/l). It offers a superbly attractive and complex nose of grapefruit, yellow peach, honeyed pear, spices, flowers, and mint. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and yellow honeyed fruits, almond cream, and a touch of nut paste and leaves one with a sense of herbal flavors reminiscent of great Doktor wines in the crystal clear and very long finish,. The after-taste of this truly magnificent Auslese feels sweet rather than noble-sweet. 2029-2059.”
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Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** 2013 375ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 8 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Bright in color the two-starred 7.5% alcohol 2013 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** is an intensely (noble) sweet and creamy-textured selection, which was picked on November 1 and is made for future generations. Very sweet and dense on the palate it still has to become more wine-y but the wine has definitely talent.”
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $59
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “From the lower part of the site and made with more botrytis grapes than the regular Auslese, the 2017 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** is clear and elegant on the perfectly ripe, intense and spicy nose. Lush and generous on the mouth-filling palate, this is a vibrantly fresh, salty-piquant and sensual Auslese with remarkable tannin structure and expression. A great, food-friendly wine that should be cellared for 10 to 15 years, even though it already drinks extremely well. Tasted in March 2019.”
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $79
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenhuhr Riesling Beerenauslese 2018 375ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 15 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese displays an intense but very clear and radiant citrus color in the glass. The nose is concentrated and fresh, with lemon chutney and broken stone aromas. Pure and fresh on the palate, this is a dense, concentrated, rich yet very precise, fresh and elegant BA with a long, crunchy, terroir-driven finish that represents the delicate slate structure of the Sonnenuhr. Still young but not really sweet due to the crystalline acidity structure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94-96 points “This 2018er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling BA was harvested at approx. 130° Oechsle and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (approx. 200 g/l). This cask sample offers a gorgeous and clean nose of candied grapefruit, pineapple juice, rhubarb, apricot, melon and honey. The wine is very juicy and sweet on the delicately viscous palate. The finish is quite intense and very long. This BA is still very sweet and juicy, and will please lovers of rich and intense dessert wines. 2028-2058.”
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Beerenauslese * 2005 375ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 7 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “Sweet and backed by a vibrant structure, this is elegant and detailed, with concentrated red berry, lime and nectarine. One of the few BAs to show a mineral component. Terrific balance and harmony, ending with a long, slate-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2040.”
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The next best price is $119
Simon Bize sale:
Buy any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Simon Bize and receive a 5% discount off of their listed price. Offer limited to stock on hand.
Vinopolis Grand Close-Out Sale:
5% off any 6-11 in-stock Vinopolis Close-Out Sale wines &
10% off any 12 or more in-stock Vinopolis Close-Out Sale wines
Discount does not combine with other current sales, but it DOES apply to Close-Out case skus!
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.