As one of the most underappreciated white wine grapes, Riesling is often very sweet or very dry, and can get pricey. But what if you鈥檙e looking for something that鈥檚 in the middle? Navigating the German Riesling label system can be difficult, but in between trocken (dry) and trockenbeerenauslese you鈥檒l find fienherb or halbtrocken, in other words off-dry and semi-sweet wines. Thankfully, bottles from elsewhere in the world don鈥檛 use Germany鈥檚 Pr盲dikat or Qualit盲tswein systems. But in case you don鈥檛 want to spend the time decoding bottle labels, we鈥檝e picked out seven exceptional off-dry Rieslings to try.
Willems-Willems 2016 Saar Oberemmel Altenberg Kabinett Riesling (Mosel); $22, 92 points.聽Sun-kissed grapefruit and white-peach flavors in this off-dry Riesling are buoyantly ripe but off set by spine-tingling acidity and a salty mineral brace. Dancingly light on its feet, it’s a piercing complex kabinett marked by delicate sweetness and a puckering lime finish.鈥擜nna Lee C. Iijima
St. Urbans-Hof 2016 Nik Weis Estate Bottled Old Vines Riesling (Mosel); $17, 90 points.聽Vibrant acidity and zingy grapefruit and yellow-cherry flavors collide in this off-dry Riesling. It’s delightfully forward and fruity yet maintains a nuanced undertone of gun flint and crushed minerals. This is an elegant yet approachable wine to enjoy now through 2021.鈥擜.L.C.I.
M枚nchhof 2016 Riesling (Mosel); $ 18, 90 points . While exceptionally light and frisky, this off-dry Riesling offers bold yellow-peach and cantaloupe flavors glazed by sweet hibiscus nectar. Briskly composed and refreshingly mineral, it finishes with a delightfully nervous tension. -ALCI
Brooks 2016 Cahiers Riesling (Willamette Valley); $ 24, 90 points . Made in a medium-sweet style, this emphasizes strong flavors that some might call syrupy. It’s nicely ripe, fruit-driven, off dry and should be enjoyed slightly chilled. -Paul Gregutt
St. Urbans-Hof 2016 Nik Weis Selection Urban Riesling (Mosel); $ 12, 89 points . Cutting yellow-peach and tangerine flavors are restrained in ripeness but nuanced by delicate hints of earth and crushed slate. Off dry and light in body, this is a spine-tingling, zesty Riesling with a salty crushed mineral finish.聽Best Buy.-ALCI
Dr. Fischer 2016 Steinbock Riesling (Mosel); $ 15, 89 points . Invigorating pineapple and crisp white-grapefruit flavors are jolted by high-toned electric acidity in this sprightly off-dry wine. It’s an easy-drinking juicy sip but nuanced subtly by hints of crushed slate and salt. This is ready to drink now. -ALCI
Reinhold Haart 2016 Summer Medium Dry Riesling (Mosel); $ 22, 89 points . 聽Racy streaks of lime and green apple make this off-dry Riesling a rejuvenating thirst quencher. The palate is bright and bright with the tangerine sweetness brightening the midpalate, and hints of smoke and earth. -ALCI