Schloss Diel 13 Ries Sekt

Schloss Diel 13 Ries Sekt is a Riesling-based sparkling wine, listed here under Massachusetts, United States. The name points to the Sekt style, which is German-language shorthand for a sparkling wine. No dosage, vintage, ABV, lees-aging time or production method is given for this bottle, so what follows is what Riesling sparkling wines of this kind usually show, not measured facts about this one. Expect a lively, high-acid profile. Riesling-based sparklers typically lead with green apple, lime zest and white peach, sometimes with a floral note of white blossom or a stony, mineral edge. Oak is rarely a factor in this style, so the fruit and acidity stay in front. There is no tannin to speak of. Body is usually light to medium, and the finish tends to run clean and citrusy. The sweetness level isn't stated, so check the label or ask in store if you want a dry bottle in particular. The acidity and bubbles suit salty, fried and lightly spiced food. Try it with oysters, tempura, fried chicken, fish tacos, soft-rind cheeses, or Thai and Vietnamese dishes where a little heat needs cooling. If this bottle turns out to have some residual sugar, it will also handle mildly spicy takeout better than most dry sparkling wines. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 45°F, which keeps the acidity crisp and the bubbles fine. It does not need decanting, and pouring from a decanter would only flatten the mousse. A tulip-shaped sparkling glass or a small white wine glass is better than a wide coupe or a narrow flute. It concentrates the aroma while leaving room for the Riesling character to show. Wines like this are generally made to drink soon after release, and a few years of cellaring is unlikely to add much unless the producer says otherwise.