Starling Castle Riesling Review (2023) – Mosel

Starling Castle Riesling Featured

What Kind of Wine Is Starling Castle Riesling?

Starling Castle Riesling is a fresh semi-sweet white wine. It is made from one-hundred percent Riesling grapes from Mosel in Germany. With a touch of green and citrus fruits and tasty mid-palate, this bottling displays crisp acidity and an elegant, creamy finish. Germany produces the highest concentration of world-class Rieslings. Whether dry and steely, medium-sweet and floral, or lusciously sweet, German winemakers are undeniable masters of this varietal.

Without a doubt, Germany is the dominating power when it comes to producing some of the world’s best Rieslings. From steely to lusciously sweet, German winemakers are the true masters of this noble grape varietal. Riesling originates in the Rhine region of Germany, with the best Riesling vines growing alongside the banks of the prestigious Mosel River on steep slopes. In general, Germany is characterized by a cool continental climate. Summers are wet, and rainfall is low in autumn during the final stage of grape ripening. The long, cool ripening period gives the grapes time to reach sugar ripeness while preserving their acidity. In this way, Riesling wines can be crispy and sweet at the same time.


Starling Castle Riesling Review

  • Winery — Starling Castle Wines
  • Country/Region — Germany, Mosel
  • Type — German Riesling
  • Aroma — Honeysuckle, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit
  • Grapes — Riesling
  • Taste — Peach, Apricot, Lime, Lemon Peel, Honey, Flint, Butter, Caramel
  • Alcohol Content — 9.5%
  • Sugar — Semi-Sweet
  • Pairing — Grilled Fish, Chicken, Salads, Spicy Mexican, Soft Cheese, Fruit Bowl

Starling Castle Riesling is pleasing. Coming from Mosel, a prestigious wine-making region, it is approachable with honeyed citrus and stone fruit flavors. The added minerality of the finish is an indicator that the wine has elegance since it preserves all of its varietal components. To sum it up, Starling Castle Riesling is majestic. It guarantees that every wine enthusiast will be satisfied. Chill it and pour it into a glass. Now!

Overall Rating: 4.4

Positives
  • Balanced Citric Nature
  • Refreshing
  • Pleasing Sweetness
  • Budget-friendly
Negatives
  • The Finish May Not Suit Everyone

Tasting Notes

Honeyed and creamy on the palate, Starling Castle Riesling is friendly and approachable. It is an easy-drinking Riesling. Floral and green fruit fragrances define the nose. While peach and lemon flavors are accented by a characteristic minerality in the mouth. The lively acidity leads to an exciting finish, accompanied by a slight hint of astringency.

Appearance

Starling Castle Riesling wine has a pale lemon-green color with long and watery legs. The center is translucent but opens on the sides to a golden hue after a few vigorous swirls. The appearance is pleasing and captivating, ensuring that wine enthusiasts are attracted to it from the first glance.

Aroma

Just as the bottle uncorks, floral fragrances of honeysuckle surface, with aromas of apple and candied pear to follow. A hint of grapefruit also can be recognized as it adds a citrus character to the nose. As a consequence, Starling Castle Riesling has an elegant aromatic profile based on primary aromas. It perfumes in an enchanting and delicate way.

Taste

Starling Castle Riesling is semi-sweet and creamy on the palate. Despite the lusciousness, it is light-to-medium-bodied as the crisp acidity offsets the ripeness. When the wine flows into the mouth, an abundance of stone fruit flavors commence a fruit dance on the palate. Peach and apricot are combined with lemon and lime peel, dominating the mouthfeel. Additionally, a minerality, in particular a subtle note of flint, adds structure. Finally, the vibrant acidity balances the overall sweetness of the wine.

Finish

With a long and stimulating finish, Starling Castle Riesling concludes the tasting profile. The finish is soft and buttery and maintains the fruit-forward personality of the wine. A slight astringency also surfaces, but it does not take away from the wine-drinking experience. Instead, it builds on it and provides an additional layer of complexity. What a wonderful ending!

Rating

Starling Castle Riesling has personality and depth without being an excess of sweetness in the mouth. It is compelling and enjoyable from the beginning to the end. With a tangy floral bouquet and ripe stone fruit notes, Starling Castle Riesling is palatable and I recommend it! Why not try some now?

Starling Castle Riesling Food Pairing

Starling Castle Riesling complements many international cuisines. Primarily, it matches with almost every kind of grilled fish. Try it with a sea bass on a bed of black bean salad or Thai coconut rice. The combination is ideal with the stone fruit flavors of this Riesling. Additionally, Starling Castle’s inherent sweetness balances well the hotness of spicy Mexican tacos, creating even more yummy taste situations.

Also, don’t underestimate soft cheeses like Gorgonzola or Camembert since they pair incredibly with the wine’s apple character. Camembert, and similar soft cheeses, were partnered with apple cider in the eighteenth century in much the same way. Starling Castle Riesling, therefore, forms a powerful combo with the creaminess of such cheeses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Makes Starling Castle Riesling?

Starling Castle is a product of Starling Castle Wines which are imported to the United States from Germany’s Prestige Beverage Group. The inspiration behind the Starling Castle name is the birds that surround the vineyards every harvest.

Founded in 1974, Prestige Beverage Group is an industry-leading importer of wines around the world. The company attempts to meet consumer preferences and anticipates industry trends by closely monitoring all production stages, from conception and brand development to packaging design and engaging marketing initiatives.

How Is Starling Castle Riesling Made?

From fine vineyards in Mosel, the Riesling grapes are harvested based on their optimal taste and ripeness. After harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and pressed to release their juice. Then, this juice is placed in stainless steel tanks to undergo cold fermentation. In this way, the final wine manages to conserve its natural acidity and obtain a perfect balance that is refreshingly crisp. However, to create medium-sweet wines in Germany, like Starling Castle, un-fermented grape juice is added, the so-called Süssreserve. Just before fermentation starts, Süssreserve is added to the tanks.

Where Is Starling Castle Riesling Made?

Starling Castle Riesling originates in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (Mosel River), Germany. The region of Mosel includes the River Mosel, from where it joins the River Rhine (Rheine) to the German border and its two small tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer. Riesling grapes dominate production. Saar and Ruwer are cooler regions and have great appellations, representing only a tiny percentage of the overall plantings in the Mosel. The best wines are typically light in body and alcohol but high in acidity, expressing a steely character. Semi-sweet and luscious wines are also produced, like Starling Castle Riesling, but in even smaller numbers.

How to Serve Starling Castle Riesling?

Starling Castle Riesling is served best in medium-sized white wine glasses. The large surface of the glass gives the wine essential aeration. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, the aromatic and flavor intensity of Starling Castle rises. The wine needs light chilling at fifty to fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit (ten to thirteen degrees Celsius). Two hours before serving, wrap the bottle in a wet paper towel, and place it inside the fridge. Then, uncork it and celebrate the perfectly balanced sweetness.

But to continue enjoying Starling Castle, you have to keep it cool using an ice bucket or wine cooler. The bucket should be filled three-quarters full with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. Be careful, though, as over-chilling can mask the flavors in wines.

How Much Does Starling Castle Riesling Cost?

Starling Castle Riesling price is approachable, ranging from $10 to $13, depending on the vendor. At this level, it is an opportunity for wine fans to easily experience a quality German Riesling. Also, being from Mosel, one of the most acclaimed wine regions in Germany, Sterling Castle Riesling is unmissable!

How Long Does Starling Castle Riesling Last?

Starling Castle Riesling is a fruit-forward white wine and cannot benefit from bottle aging. Therefore, it has to be consumed young, within six months from the date of bottling. The longer it stays unopened its delicate flavors and aromas are damaged as they lose their freshness. Also, be aware that youthful Rieslings lack the structural components required to withstand aging, like a high alcohol concentration. The longer Starling Castle Riesling stays in the pantry, the greater its lively character declines.

How Many Calories Does Starling Castle Riesling Have?

There are about 20 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the beverage, equating to a total of 102 calories per serving. The calorie breakdown is 3 grams of fats, 0 grams of sodium, 0 grams of total carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and approximately 40 grams of total sugars. As such, Starling Castle Riesling calories do not pose a threat to consumers on a diet. Only consumers who are on a low-sugar diet need to consider the total sugars of the wine. Starling Castle Riesling alcohol intake sits at 9,5% per volume, which is fairly standard for this type of wine.

Conclusion

Starling Castle Riesling is pleasing. Coming from Mosel, a prestigious wine-making region, it is approachable with honeyed citrus and stone fruit flavors. The added minerality of the finish is an indicator that the wine has elegance since it preserves all of its varietal components. To sum it up, Starling Castle Riesling is majestic. It guarantees that every wine enthusiast will be satisfied. Chill it and pour it into a glass. Now!

Scroll to Top