April 17, 2018 - Riesling Swag 2018 (Vlet Hamburg): I've had three times before with consistent results (88-89 P). All bottles had a medium to light golden colour and were decently clean for a 2006. But this bottle was a bit of a mess with a dark golden colour and a nose full of unclean botrytis and overripe apple. Quite sweet and a tad bitter as well. You can drink it, but it's not much fun.
March 28, 2018 - Deep golden. This has reached a harmonious maturity where the mellow richness is balanced by an excellent acidity. I didn't decant it, and we drank it over two hours, so I can't report on any ulterior developments. It is not at all tired, in fact the Heyman Löwenstein wines seem to age very slowly.
October 1, 2016 - deep golden at the eye, light orange. Hydrocarbons and slate the first scents in the baloon. Then tons of ripe tropical exotic fruit with some honey and dried apples and apricot. Palate consistent with nose. Time has long worked on this wine releasing surprising hidden notes but reducing acidity over time. Seems almost a late harvest wine. Wonder how it was five years ago
January 19, 2014 - Though still quite advanced in color, this was much fresher than our pervious bottle, however still lacked the energy and liveliness of the first. Nevertheless this boasted gorgeous aromas of apricots, golden apple, lemon candy, and honeysuckle. Rich and viscous on the palate as a melange of tropical fruits competes with racy lime citrus and saline crushed rock. Almond paste, dried herbs, and peach pit add interest to the finish. Drink.
January 7, 2014 - This was quite advanced and evolved compared to our prior bottle. Rich golden color. Quite savory aromas of dried spiced pineapple, waxy citrus, coriander, and fallen leaves. Rich and viscous on the palate, as baked citrus, honeysuckle, and cinnamon compete with fading lemon citrus acidity. Not sure if this is representative, but it certainly wasn't as vibrant and explosive of our last bottle. Nevertheless, there is a bit of interest to the savory qualities. Drink.
August 9, 2013 - Decanted half an hour. Deep golden and at first almost Auslese-like in its richness. Then the richness appears more balanced by the magnificent acidity. Complexity begins to unfold itself between the poles of golden grape-like richness, austere minerality and balancing acidity. Great wine, immensely attractive.
November 17, 2012 - From a magnum won at auction at Starnberger See. Bombastic nose of grapefruit, maracuja, mango, pineapple, salt, burnt wood, and slate. Very intense, high-pitched palate of the same tastes with the salt, slate, and iron dominating the fruit in the long, sweet, elegant end. Near ideal balance of acid, minerals, salt, sugar and exotic fruit. For lovers of Baroque rieslings with incredibly exotic fruit. I subtract one point from perfection only because I think this is showing a little more sugar than it should to be a classic.
June 27, 2012 - Decanted two hours and brought to a dinner; drunk out of inadequate glasses. Very good if a bit on the fat side. The leftovers were much better the second day in the usual glasses (Riedel vinum riesling): distinct licorice and a kind of lively controlled richness - went well with a steak!
March 25, 2012 - Very nice Riesling. Some Petrol notes in the nose, but not very much. You can smell the slate. Medium finish.
March 19, 2012 - The nose is complex and beginning to mature, showing tones of waxy citrus, dried pineapple, white flowers, honeycomb, and roasted almond. The palate opens with ripe melon, gorgeously authentic mixed tropical fruits, as well as a melange of lush lemon and tangerine. The powerful mid-palate adds elaborate notes of roasted nuts, orange blossom, smoke, and cinnamon all supported by infiltrating slate minerality. The finish is nearly endless, featuring a wonderful interplay of tart citrus zest, watermelon, ginger, and raw coconut. The balance of ripe fruit and acidity is simply exquisite, allowing a simultaneously full texture and refreshing disposition. This is fantastic stuff. R&M 92