Kai Schätzel Riesling Niersteiner Schloss Schwabsburg Kabinett 2017

At just 7% alcohol, this Kabinett from Schätzel's Schloss Schwabsburg site manages to feel genuinely refreshing rather than cloying, no small feat at this level of residual sugar. Lime, citrus blossom, and a medley of white flowers on the nose lead into a palate that's delicate but polished, with bright citrus fruit and a burst of inner-mouth perfume that feels almost effortless. The finish tingles and lingers, gradually revealing the stony, smoky character that marks the Red Slope's signature. Note that Schätzel expects VDP approval of Schloss Schwabsburg as an Erste Lage, at which point this wine will be released under that designation.