It is ten years since I last had this and it is now fully mature. Slightly petrolly nose with ripe citrus. Classic yellow fruits and citrus Riesling flavours rounded out by time. Good wine, light on its feet and not overly sweet.
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Asperg Wine Syndrome Tasting Group: February 2020 edition (@home): Glass: Zalto Universal Popped and poured, drunk over two days. Clear, medium golden color. My fellow tasters pledged for “corked”. On day one I did not take time to verify that. Due to the verdict, I had almost 50% of the bottle left to be examined on day two onwards 😊 The nose was clean, no sign of cork. But it felt like standing right next to a gas pump! Diesel at its best, behind some ripe yellow stone fruit and mineral notes. Very exciting, but certainly not for everyone. On the palate the same situation: no sign of cork, but heavy petrol! Medium-sweet, medium+ acidity, only 8% abv. Lots of petrol, ripe yellow stone fruit, lovely mineral core, herbs and cassis. Quite creamy on the palate, certainly a declassified Auslese. Very balanced and harmonious, but never loud. Lacks a bit of tension. This bottle would have lasts and possibly improved for at least another decade. 90-91+
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Coravin tasting clear, light golden yellow clean, profound aromas of ripe white & yellow tropical fruits (apricot, peach, melon, pineapple, papaya) with petrol notes and gun-powder hints off-dry, high acidity, full body, thick, silky, rich white & yellow mature tropical fruits flavours, fine structure, delicate complexity, long seducing finish.
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Excellent- big nose of lychee and pineapple, great core of acidity, fairly sweet and big bodied palate, and all of this in great balance. This is going to need foie gras, slightly spicy food, or a light dessert to show best. Very few signs of age surprisingly enough. Off the list at Jungsik and worked well with a variety of dishes.
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Late release. Still pale in colour. Lovely Saar profile of peach, citrus and a minty, gooseberry edge, starting to become slightly honeyed but definitely feels 18 years young. Really nice stuff ***1/2+
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As always Zilliken makes a great spatlese. This one is a little bit on the hot side - alcohol is noticable and the wine is very rich and not so elegant. There is also a touch of bitterness on the finish. However, the acidity is very much present and balances the sweetness well. Petrol is obvious on the nose and the residual sugar feels almost completely integratedl. So I would say, drink now - 2020. Not a wine for saving much longer.
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At a restaurant, followed over a couple of hours. Delicious from the start, this gained significantly in complexity during few hours. At the end, the nose had many layers, with lots of herbal and floral scents, mirabelle and a subtle hint of hydrocarbons. Palate was sweet, but never too much, even had a light bitter touch as in rhubarb. Acidity made it quite playful. Still very young.
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Pale yellow, belying its age. Intensely perfumed with pear, candied lemon peel, white flowers, verveine and an unusually high toned petrol note. A very powerful presence and finish for a wine of inherent delicacy. Made me think of the image of a spider web supporting many drops of rain. Served by the delightful Arthur at the fine 28-50 in Mayfair. I hope to try this in another 10 or 20 years...
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A private lunch (Restaurant The Clove Club *, London, UK): Museum release. Elegant sweetness, light but with a piercing intensity, floral and fresh, lemon cream, peach, smoky slate, waxy but no TDN, effortless elegance, completely belies its 17 years of age, long and layered finish. Just beautiful.
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An essay in delicacy, the 1999 Zilliken Rausch Spätlese reveals a strikingly detailed bouquet of bee pollen, honey comb, preserved lemon and wet slate. On the palate the wine is sappy, refined and very elegant, with great palate penetration and weightlessness and a crisp, dry finish despite its sweetness. After a more exuberant, powerful wine from the middle Mosel this bottle from the Saar was a change of pace, but an object lesson in learning to listen to what a more subtle wine has to say—which in this case is a great deal.
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celebrating my 60th and Yoram's 50th birthday with Wine-Nona (MeatBar restaurant, Herzlia): P&P light golden pale yellow quality perfumed fine petrolic fruity nose with notes of slate and citrus-lime and green lemon hints complex medium-bodied, delicate balance and excellent harmony, fine herbal-citrus-lime flavours, excellent acidity, seducing soft palate, silky and enduring finish. Can improve and age 10-15 years more.
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First of the case. A bit busy and distracted while drinking at a BBQ. Seemed to be lacking acidity and verve. Enjoyable though. Hopefully the others will fare better more in line with other reviews.
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AP #10 A bit of bottle stink but quickly blew off. Rich fresh and spicy. The acidity is still strong and keeps this fresh. But nicely balanced with the sweetness. Age has perhaps emphasised the minerality. Enjoyed. Needless to say, the bottle disappeared v quickly
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Slate and petrol intermixed with citrus on the nose - showing nice complexity and a classic Saar profile. Sweetish, still quite pale with good citrus and slate flavours. A touch soft on the finish but otherwise some complexity developing. Still young give it a few more years yet.
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AP #10-00; drinking beautifully right now with a combination of bright primary green citrus and pear fruit, minerals and fresh herbal notes beneath and the beginnings of developing smoky/petrolly notes. It's quite rich but at the same time comes across very focused and precise with bright acids balancing the sweetness nicely. Lovely, though this has a lot of time ahead of it.
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12/29/2021 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
It is ten years since I last had this and it is now fully mature. Slightly petrolly nose with ripe citrus. Classic yellow fruits and citrus Riesling flavours rounded out by time. Good wine, light on its feet and not overly sweet.
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1/2/2021 - MAOC wrote:
Still drinking well - yellow fruit, peach, lime edge - but perhaps a bit softer than it might be, not at the top level ***+
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2/28/2020 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 90 Points
Asperg Wine Syndrome Tasting Group: February 2020 edition (@home): Glass: Zalto Universal
Popped and poured, drunk over two days.
Clear, medium golden color. My fellow tasters pledged for “corked”. On day one I did not take time to verify that. Due to the verdict, I had almost 50% of the bottle left to be examined on day two onwards 😊 The nose was clean, no sign of cork. But it felt like standing right next to a gas pump! Diesel at its best, behind some ripe yellow stone fruit and mineral notes. Very exciting, but certainly not for everyone.
On the palate the same situation: no sign of cork, but heavy petrol! Medium-sweet, medium+ acidity, only 8% abv. Lots of petrol, ripe yellow stone fruit, lovely mineral core, herbs and cassis. Quite creamy on the palate, certainly a declassified Auslese. Very balanced and harmonious, but never loud. Lacks a bit of tension. This bottle would have lasts and possibly improved for at least another decade. 90-91+
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11/10/2019 - nywine68 wrote: 89 Points
Straightforward enjoyable Riesling. Not overly sweet but lacks a strong acidic backbone. Apricots and peach flavors.
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3/2/2019 - MAOC wrote:
Same as last note - ideal now, a softish expression ****
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9/1/2018 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Coravin tasting
clear, light golden yellow
clean, profound aromas of ripe white & yellow tropical fruits (apricot, peach, melon, pineapple, papaya) with petrol notes and gun-powder hints
off-dry, high acidity, full body, thick, silky, rich white & yellow mature tropical fruits flavours, fine structure, delicate complexity, long seducing finish.
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6/5/2018 - BillBell73 Likes this wine:
Excellent- big nose of lychee and pineapple, great core of acidity, fairly sweet and big bodied palate, and all of this in great balance. This is going to need foie gras, slightly spicy food, or a light dessert to show best. Very few signs of age surprisingly enough. Off the list at Jungsik and worked well with a variety of dishes.
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5/23/2018 - MAOC wrote:
best bottle from the case, very Saar in feel, beautiful balance of softening yellow fruit and lime cut, couldn’t drink it quickly enough.... ****
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1/21/2018 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely wine that perfectly complemented the lamb curry. Pears and pineapple. Very good balance and long finish.
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11/2/2017 - MAOC wrote:
Late release. Still pale in colour. Lovely Saar profile of peach, citrus and a minty, gooseberry edge, starting to become slightly honeyed but definitely feels 18 years young. Really nice stuff ***1/2+
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3/23/2017 - RolfT wrote: 88 Points
As always Zilliken makes a great spatlese. This one is a little bit on the hot side - alcohol is noticable and the wine is very rich and not so elegant. There is also a touch of bitterness on the finish. However, the acidity is very much present and balances the sweetness well. Petrol is obvious on the nose and the residual sugar feels almost completely integratedl. So I would say, drink now - 2020. Not a wine for saving much longer.
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1/8/2017 - gilrbo Likes this wine:
At a restaurant, followed over a couple of hours.
Delicious from the start, this gained significantly in complexity during few hours.
At the end, the nose had many layers, with lots of herbal and floral scents, mirabelle and a subtle hint of hydrocarbons. Palate was sweet, but never too much, even had a light bitter touch as in rhubarb. Acidity made it quite playful. Still very young.
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10/27/2016 - Mistress of Wine Likes this wine:
Pale yellow, belying its age. Intensely perfumed with pear, candied lemon peel, white flowers, verveine and an unusually high toned petrol note. A very powerful presence and finish for a wine of inherent delicacy. Made me think of the image of a spider web supporting many drops of rain. Served by the delightful Arthur at the fine 28-50 in Mayfair. I hope to try this in another 10 or 20 years...
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6/25/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private lunch (Restaurant The Clove Club *, London, UK): Museum release. Elegant sweetness, light but with a piercing intensity, floral and fresh, lemon cream, peach, smoky slate, waxy but no TDN, effortless elegance, completely belies its 17 years of age, long and layered finish. Just beautiful.
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6/9/2016 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 92 Points
An essay in delicacy, the 1999 Zilliken Rausch Spätlese reveals a strikingly detailed bouquet of bee pollen, honey comb, preserved lemon and wet slate. On the palate the wine is sappy, refined and very elegant, with great palate penetration and weightlessness and a crisp, dry finish despite its sweetness. After a more exuberant, powerful wine from the middle Mosel this bottle from the Saar was a change of pace, but an object lesson in learning to listen to what a more subtle wine has to say—which in this case is a great deal.
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5/11/2016 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Drank at 67
Rich nose with lime, citrus, petrol and wax. Lovely rich smooth palate. Medium Sweet but balanced. Nice.
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4/1/2016 - foxmuc wrote: 90 Points
May be my expectasions were to high - the wine was very good, but the last 10% were missing.
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2/25/2016 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
celebrating my 60th and Yoram's 50th birthday with Wine-Nona (MeatBar restaurant, Herzlia): P&P
light golden pale yellow
quality perfumed fine petrolic fruity nose with notes of slate and citrus-lime and green lemon hints
complex medium-bodied, delicate balance and excellent harmony, fine herbal-citrus-lime flavours, excellent acidity, seducing soft palate, silky and enduring finish. Can improve and age 10-15 years more.
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8/10/2014 - theonlylittledog wrote: 91 Points
This one is a bit more like it. Sweetness balanced with sour, and a hint of bitterness. Complex rewarding wine
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7/31/2014 - theonlylittledog wrote: 87 Points
First of the case. A bit busy and distracted while drinking at a BBQ. Seemed to be lacking acidity and verve. Enjoyable though. Hopefully the others will fare better more in line with other reviews.
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8/16/2013 - theonlylittledog wrote: 91 Points
AP #10 A bit of bottle stink but quickly blew off. Rich fresh and spicy. The acidity is still strong and keeps this fresh. But nicely balanced with the sweetness. Age has perhaps emphasised the minerality. Enjoyed. Needless to say, the bottle disappeared v quickly
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7/2/2011 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Slate and petrol intermixed with citrus on the nose - showing nice complexity and a classic Saar profile. Sweetish, still quite pale with good citrus and slate flavours. A touch soft on the finish but otherwise some complexity developing. Still young give it a few more years yet.
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12/2/2010 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 92 Points
Light to medium lemon. Lemon-lime and herbal nose beneath clear--but not overbearing--petrol. Oily/waxy body; very good acidity.
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12/2/2010 - salil wrote: 91 Points
AP #10-00; drinking beautifully right now with a combination of bright primary green citrus and pear fruit, minerals and fresh herbal notes beneath and the beginnings of developing smoky/petrolly notes. It's quite rich but at the same time comes across very focused and precise with bright acids balancing the sweetness nicely. Lovely, though this has a lot of time ahead of it.
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5/19/2001 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 90 Points
German Riesling - Unsung Stars of the Wine World (with Stephen Brook) (London): A medium greenish-tinged straw . Good minerally nose outbalancing the fruit, but the nose is really rather closed. Noticeable sweetness, but the acidity develops well in the mouth. Bit reticent - needs more age.
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