From blue slate and quartzite soils and fermented in oak fuders, the 2016 Riesling (Thörnich) Ritsch "GG" displays a very clear, fresh and lean bouquet of bright Riesling fruits intermixed with flinty-mineral notes. Piquant and juicy on the palate, this is a very elegant, pure, lean and finessed Riesling with a charming touch of sweetness and remarkably fine acidity. Straight and mineral, with good grip and tension, the 2016 Ritsch is an excellent dry Riesling classic from the Mosel. Tasted March 2018 (AP #12). Although the 2015's were already superb, 2016 brought some of the finest Rieslings I have tasted so far from Karl-Josef and Christopher Loewen. The collection does not only include beautifully balanced Auslesen and a terrific Eiswein from the Leiwener Klostergarten but also two excellent "Grosses Gewächs" Rieslings, and the medium-dry Riesling "1896" from the Longuich Maximin Herrenberg is simply one of the finest wines produced in the Mosel in that year. (SR)