Cork shredded on opening. Lovely bright golden colour. Fully mature and at peak. Rich and fairly sweet with plenty of tropical fruit. Drink soon as this is unlikely to improve further. Excellent.
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This bottle tasted fully resolved and mature. Gold but dulling a little. Ripe Riesling fruit nose, nice but not special. And decent, solid fruit, ripe, sugar fading but quite classic. More evolved than expected. Need to try another soon.
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Very well aged and developed flavour profile. Honey and caramel with melon, ripe apricots, burnt almonds, wet rock and toast. Beautifully balanced in terms of acidity. Excellent
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Wines with porchetta (Chicago, IL): #10-06. Splendid nose on this, with a chewy mineral tone that I really love. Very delicate herbal notes with just a bit of that stereotypical Dönnhoff ethereal quality that I really love. Plenty chewy (I love it when you get that almost-tannic texture in very concentrated rieslings) with a good hit of minerality as well.
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Cork was very soaked and very soft so I carefully pulled it with a corkscrew with no breakage. Pouring it into the glass revealed the most insane golden color.
Nose felt soft and a bit subdued but that didn't stop the aromas of pineapple, canned peach, apricot, ripe mango, citrus fruits, honey and some wet flint coming through.
The palate was like I expected after having the other 2005's from Dönnhoff; very ripe and bordering Auslese in my opinion. Thick texture full of pineapple, mango, canned peach, apricot, mirabelle and honey really laying the fruity sweetness in there. Then there's a soft wave of white peach, pickled lemon, grapefruit zest and some quince adding a bit of cleansing acidity but at the quite low end. I'm lacking some kind of electricity in the acidity and a bit more "zing" for this to really hit the absolutely perfect balance.
Overall for about €47 this is just a freaking amazing Riesling and it really shows how much bang-for-your-buck there's available in German Riesling...
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Deep golden, but without any orange or amber tint. These is fully mature of course and showing better than the last bottle (especially on the palate), which was cellared and bought from the same merchant at the same time as this bottle. So there are considerable bottle variations in the 2004 and 2005 vintages of this producer. The nose is less intense and less complex. On the palate it gives yellow and tropical fruits like mango, mirabelle, spicy as well as herbal notes like sage e. g. Quite intense and complex at the same time and showing great balance between fruit, acidity and sweetness, which is shed to a large amount. Long finish. 5/12/18/10, -2030+ if perfectly cellared since release.
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Four years since I last had this. Approaching maturity. Yellow gold, ripe nose, yellow fruits. Medium sweet, rich and ripe. Moderate intensity. I think with a few more years it will lose some of its sweetness and show great intensity. Lovely now but still more to give. No rush.
Pausing for the Cause 2022 (Chicago, IL): From magnum. Extraordinarily good. Ripe, fresh, and sweet, with nary a hint of age. It's definitely a product of a riper vintage with sweet yellow fruit, but there is so much electricity and exuberance in this magnum. Chewy minerality on the back end. This is the sort of showing that reminds me why I love Dönnhoff so much.
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Deep golden, but without any orange or amber tint. This is fully mature of course. Nose of apricots, peaches, flint, citrus. On the palate still quite sweet, but nicely balanced by refreshing acidity. 5/12/18/8. -2025
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Nose: This was pretty open and giving from the get go with deep tones of honey, red apples, quince, nectarine, peaches, cherries, pears, yellow flowers, and melon rinds.
Taste: The feel is light bodied with crisp, high acidity. There is some weight to the feel due to the age and sugar, but it is deft and silky with deep tones of red apples, quince, nectarines, peaches, honey, yellow flowers, and melon rinds.
Overall: This poured a golden color and showed off a good amount of maturity. This was wonderful right away and kept growing in the glass. This is at full maturity and will last a while longer.
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Light to medium gold. Nose gives away brown sugar covered pineapple and ripe peach. I can get a faint aroma of petrol. I expected more bracing acidity, and it's nothing close to flabby but it is pretty mellow on this component. Palate is orchard-fruit dominant - Soft yellow apple, dried apricot. This is a well-balanced wine overall, but unfortunately, this particular bottle is not reflective of the high scores on CT.
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This is stunning now. Ripe peach, apricot, mandarin, orange, nectar, very clean, high acidity, floral note, lilac, more body today than day 1. Very well balanced, long finish, intense acidity, deep complexity, high concentration, outstanding. 93p+
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This wine performed so well that I almost forgot to take notes. Quite yellow in the glass. A small hint of petrol and smoke on the nose but not that much, actually. Tropical fruit, white flowers, wet rocks, black tea, and mint - mix these things and add ice cubes. On the palate, it has acidity like an orange, white grape, or pineapple. So well balanced, great minerality, and a long, long finish. The best from Dönnhoff for me so far even though it's still quite primary. Yummy!
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My experience was very much in line with MFW. Rich and creamy. I would have thought this was an Auslese, if I didn't know better. Seemed to get lighter with air though. Candied fruit, touch of spice, and despite it's ripe character - well balanced.
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Much better showing than my last one a few months ago. This is a fireworks display. Such an amazing array of bright fruit, florality, minerality, and light smoky development all coming together seamlessly; intensely flavoured but so gentle and airy on the palate. Absolutely spectacular with the foie gras bibimbap at S.K.Y.
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The wine is clear, pale intense golden core with a watery rim, developing
Nose is clean, medium+ intense aromas of nectar, tropical fruit, petrol, stonefruit, deep complexity
Palate is medium sweet, high acidity, low alcohol, medium+ body and flavour intensity with aromas of peach, tropical fruit, nectar, complex, long finish.
Very well balanced, long finish, intense aromas and high concentration and deep complexity. Outstanding quality, 93p+
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At Adrian's Hermannshoehle tasting. Loved this, only second to the '04 in the lineup for me. Another fantastic showing, though still showing a bit more primary and youthful than I'd like - there's a lot more richness and density here compared to the '04; it's remarkably elegant and light on the palate, but the primary fruit still dominates this and I'll give my last bottle a few more years.
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Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese mini vertical (Chicago, IL): #10-06, 8.5% abv. While this is quite different than the 2004 in shape, there are still clear elements that the two wines have in common. The stone fruit, again think white peaches and white cherries, are riper and sweeter, and there's just a very slight hint of sweet florals on the nose as well. The palate here is broader and riper, but this wine still has that same lightness and airiness that the more elegant 2004 had. It's a wine that seems to float (the classic Theise "ethereality") but you have to wonder how, given all the stuffing it has.
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Yellow gold colour. Classic lemon and tropical fruit nose. Full spotless body, medium sweetness. Fine acidity. Rounded full and fine citrus and apple flavours. Ready now will still improve a bit.
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Intense and vibrant lemon yellow colour with green reflections; the nose is quite discreet but complex (flowers, wax, almonds, toffee, cream, citrus fruit), fresh and deep; the palate is rich and sweet for a Nahe Spätlese, with a creamy texture, but the power is balanced with ease by tingling acidity; on the finish the hidden minerality raises its head above the parapet, and resonance and length are excellent. At this stage it is very attractive, but in reality it needs another 3-5 years to fully integrate the residual sugar. Next bottle in 2020/22. After two days in the fridge it has improved markedly; there is more precision and finesse, and aromas of mint, blackcurrant and peach are developing. This will be an outstanding Spätlese, but it needs still more time.
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Very good already, but promising enough that I'm holding my remaining two for a least a few more years. The sweetness is well-balanced with the lovely fruit, singing acidity and minerality, and small floral and petrol notes. This is a very complete package that should only get better with time.
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From magnum, and this is positively singing. Richly fruity, enough baby fat melted away that there is more spine showing, and the wine has an endless finish of peaches, cherry, warm apple and almost crunchy minerality. So often with delicious wines I am enthralled for 3 or 4 sips then the effect wears off. That did not happen here, as every sip, every pour (and I had 3!) sustained the interest and maintained the fascinating interplay of fruit and minerals. We had opened the 2005 Hermannshohle Grosses Gewachs earlier, which was also in the prime of life, and these was a family resemblance at the core. The GG was more the elegant, reserved twin, while the Spätlese was all exuberance. Among out group we had 6 different Rieslings, all of which showed well, but the magnum was the first and only one drained.
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I have been experimenting with expanding my tastes from Trockens, Kabs and GGs and recently acquired a handful of older Spats and Ausleses to help that along. PnP'd this based on recent reviews that suggest its in a good place now.
The nose on open was wonderful, both floral and fruit and a lot of depth. A swirl in the glass brought out a whiff of petrol. The wine was full-bodied and definitely sweet, with prominent honey at the front end, fading on the finish. The acidity was not noticeable at all, but the overall balance told me its there.
I can't say this wine blew me away, but we definitely enjoyed it. I'd probably rate it a solid 91-92, but that would be based on my overall palate, not v other spats. At this point in my education its kind of like a classical concerto: you can appreciate the artistry and accomplishment and at times you find a thread that carries you away, but you lack the experience to appreciate the nuance or tell whether this performance is transcendent or merely very good. But it keeps you coming back.
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Juicy stone fruit, gripping acidity, nice length, also tastes of grapes, butterscotch and a tiny touch of petrol. Fresh and delicious, one gets a sense that this will be also be great in ten years or in twenty years.
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Oentrians German Rieslings @ Restaurant Michael. Very pretty wine. Shows fresh enticing peach and apple aromas and nice clean rich tropical stony fruit flavors with good density and refreshing lift. Good underlying sweetness, but nothing cloying or heavy. In a good place. Came in 2nd place to a von simmon, but beat out some strong competition in JJ Prum, Dr. Fischer OB, Thanish BD, F. Haag Brauneberger.
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Fantastic Spätlese. This is in a great place right now. The complexity is amazing - an array of fruit ranging from fresh citrus and apples to riper cherry and tropical fruits, a stony mineral character beneath, and other floral, faintly honeyed, and more savoury developed smoky notes all coming together seamlessly. A really graceful, light palate presence with good acidity balancing the sweetness, and great length. Certainly has the stuffing and balance to age longer, but it's drinking so well now I wonder why I should wait...
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A bit closed and clumsy on the first night, but drinks beautifully the next day - white cherries and peaches on the palate. Elegant and focused. Still mostly primary. Would wait a few years before I open my next bottle.
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Beautiful Spatlese in the prime of its life. Unlike many 2005s that are very rich, this is more restrained, and so is a better partner for food right now. The fruit is still very present, focusing on peachy and tropical flavors. Where this wine shines is on the finish that carries on forever. It's an elegant, haunting presence, that carries the fruit and a salty, mineral essence. This is fabulous to drink now, and should carry on for a very long time.
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Greenish yellow color, nose has a hint of kerosene. Pure, finely etched pit fruit flavors, youthful, but just beginning to gain a little creaminess. Great lift complements great ripeness. This is the essence of spatlese Riesling and a perfect pairing with a sweet, salty ham.
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Dinner with Friends (SHS, Cos, Donnhoff, RM, +++) (Our home): Wow, this was really rocking. Golden in color. The nose is clean and youthful. Wet rocks and some pineapple. Great lush texture. On the palate, slightly sweet with nice acidity. Just love the texture. Long, mineral driven finish. Lovely wine that went down fast and easy.
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Pale yellow. Nose a floral bouquet with lemon and orange thrown in. Taste was smooth, brightness with an acid presence but no overpowering. Absolutely wonderful.
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The dutchman turns 30; 3/2/2012-3/3/2012 (Chicago IL): nose: beautiful and lush nose filled with tones of green apples, loads of orchard fruits, pears, cherries, tropical fruits, peaches and a nice mineral undercurrent. Very layered with real good density on the nose right now, but holding back every so slightly.
taste: medium bodied with good weight to it. There is noticeable medium+ acidity that isn't too overbearing along with deft tones of green apples, cherries, pears, orchard fruits and mineral tones.
overall: this did need some air to fully get going. It probably could've used a decant as well. Still, a delicious donnhoff that started showing great once it got going.
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From magnum: lovely. Incredible purity, bright tropical fruits: pineapple, mango, with some hints of red fruit as well. Not the most complex wine, but the attack is really beautiful.
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@ Terroir TriBeCa La Paulee pre-party From Magnum. Wow. Frightfully young. Bright & lively notes of peaches and pits. Zippy acidity, nice weight on the palate, a bit short on the finish. I really thought that this was a 2009 as it was so closed but reviewing my label picture I realize it is the 2005! Sleep, my darling. See you in 2020.
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delicious. peach, red apple. juice like -- i could seriously chug this all day -- but not simple, with some spice and fine stone (pebble?) notes. medium(+) acid adds bite and leads into a long finish.
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Hard to describe, beyond its balance and "rightness" - the usual donnhoff qualities of purity, honey, limpidity, fresh and saline and, actually, today not that expressive - but the class is obvious
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Drank this over two hours and it was truly breathtaking. The nose was slightly restrained, showing elegant flavours of flowers, apple, peach and yellow fruits over minerals. On the palate it's full bodied with very clean, pure flavours of peach, apple, orange, citrus and red fruits with salty mineral notes. Very precise, seamless and balanced - this has plenty of acidity underneath all the fruit with a silky, almost glossy texture in the mouth and an incredibly long finish. Wow.
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This producer never disappoints and this wine in particular is really exceptional. It's been a while since I had a riesling that was that good. It was less sweet than I expected and that was definitely a good thing. Tons of acidity here, this wine is certainly built for the long run but is already amazingly good now. This level of quality for a mere 25 euros is just incredible. If you've had a wine from this producer before, you know what I mean, and if you haven't, you should run and try some. Enough said.
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I don't have the experience, and particularly with Riesling, to do justice in a TN to this wine. The color was pale yellow; nose was citrus, some floral?,some peach, apple, other great fruit and all of this was on the palate minus the floral. The finish was wonderful and when I think of the wine I can taste it.
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My first chance to really sit and drink this wine (as opposed to tasting). Utterly beguiling sums it up well. The aromas combine ripe fruit and a salty mineral element. The flavors are a wash of sweet fruit (peach, pineapple, apple, raspberry, cherry, etc.) with perfectly balanced acids to finish dry and clean. Intensity allied to elegance. Typically amazing Donnhoff wine. It has reached the point where it is hard to be impressed. Every year it's the same thing: perfection.
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Supeb wine. Extremely well balanced and smooth. Double decanted and rebottled 5 hours prior to drinking. Mellow and expressive nose of white fruit, white peach, hint of tangerine. On the palate, mellow attack. Smooth. Mid-palate very complex and balanced. Kalidescope of mellow white peach, mellow tropical fruit...belize papaya, pineapple dances on the tongue. Shimmers on the tongue with citrus tartness. Rich and dense. Acids in the background. Extremely well structured. Sugar level appears to fade into a very long finish. Cannot wait to see how this evolves. Ive heard that over time the baby fat will fade and the acids will take move toward the fore. Look forward to experiencing that.
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MSR offline St John 16.2.2007 Intense ripe fruit and acidity. Did I say intense? Beautiful balance. Precise but very primary. Soft and lingering finish. dg+
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Eve of the Eve Vinci Dinner (Chicago, IL): Out of magnum. Hugely aromatic nose of apples, pears along with tropical notes. Totally primary palate with ripe, pure and bright fruit profile. Steely minerality and smoke. Acidic structure goes unnoticed but must be behind the seamless, balanced and lengthy profile. A pleasure bomb today --- but one should really bury these in the cellar as it only shows a fraction of what it will ultimately acheive.
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Best Riesling I've ever had. Clean, precise, overwhelming, splendid minerality and perfect match between sweetness and acidity. Buy it if you can find it!
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Grapefruit and loads of minerals on the nose. Extremely terroir-driven wine. Grips you and holds you in a tight grip. Rocks, quartz, salt and chalk interwoven with loads of fruit. Simply stunning! If the Fritz Haag Auslese was the velvet glove, then this is the iron fist. Rating: 96
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11/12/2023 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 94 Points
Yellow. Nose of a fruit cup, citrus dominates. Taste smooth, balanced, fruit cup, moderate sweet.
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9/19/2023 - MartyL wrote: 94 Points
Still amazing.
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8/10/2023 - kevin h wrote: 92 Points
Cork shredded on opening. Lovely bright golden colour. Fully mature and at peak. Rich and fairly sweet with plenty of tropical fruit. Drink soon as this is unlikely to improve further. Excellent.
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5/26/2023 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
This bottle tasted fully resolved and mature. Gold but dulling a little. Ripe Riesling fruit nose, nice but not special. And decent, solid fruit, ripe, sugar fading but quite classic. More evolved than expected. Need to try another soon.
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4/7/2023 - Michael Hung wrote: flawed
4/7/23 Riesling Tasting (Vinum): Drank alongside of a total 18 Rieslings, starting from dry to sweet.
Corked sadly.
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4/7/2023 - kstoddard wrote: flawed
Corked
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3/18/2023 - cvst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very well aged and developed flavour profile. Honey and caramel with melon, ripe apricots, burnt almonds, wet rock and toast. Beautifully balanced in terms of acidity. Excellent
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12/17/2022 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
Wines with porchetta (Chicago, IL): #10-06. Splendid nose on this, with a chewy mineral tone that I really love. Very delicate herbal notes with just a bit of that stereotypical Dönnhoff ethereal quality that I really love. Plenty chewy (I love it when you get that almost-tannic texture in very concentrated rieslings) with a good hit of minerality as well.
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10/2/2022 - Lehto Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork was very soaked and very soft so I carefully pulled it with a corkscrew with no breakage. Pouring it into the glass revealed the most insane golden color.
Nose felt soft and a bit subdued but that didn't stop the aromas of pineapple, canned peach, apricot, ripe mango, citrus fruits, honey and some wet flint coming through.
The palate was like I expected after having the other 2005's from Dönnhoff; very ripe and bordering Auslese in my opinion. Thick texture full of pineapple, mango, canned peach, apricot, mirabelle and honey really laying the fruity sweetness in there. Then there's a soft wave of white peach, pickled lemon, grapefruit zest and some quince adding a bit of cleansing acidity but at the quite low end. I'm lacking some kind of electricity in the acidity and a bit more "zing" for this to really hit the absolutely perfect balance.
Overall for about €47 this is just a freaking amazing Riesling and it really shows how much bang-for-your-buck there's available in German Riesling...
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9/24/2022 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Golden amber in color with a nice honey note and a bit of floral notes on the finish.
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9/17/2022 - Caruso Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep golden, but without any orange or amber tint. These is fully mature of course and showing better than the last bottle (especially on the palate), which was cellared and bought from the same merchant at the same time as this bottle. So there are considerable bottle variations in the 2004 and 2005 vintages of this producer. The nose is less intense and less complex. On the palate it gives yellow and tropical fruits like mango, mirabelle, spicy as well as herbal notes like sage e. g. Quite intense and complex at the same time and showing great balance between fruit, acidity and sweetness, which is shed to a large amount. Long finish. 5/12/18/10, -2030+ if perfectly cellared since release.
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7/22/2022 - kevin h wrote: 92 Points
Four years since I last had this. Approaching maturity. Yellow gold, ripe nose, yellow fruits. Medium sweet, rich and ripe. Moderate intensity. I think with a few more years it will lose some of its sweetness and show great intensity. Lovely now but still more to give. No rush.
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5/2/2022 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
Pausing for the Cause 2022 (Chicago, IL): From magnum. Extraordinarily good. Ripe, fresh, and sweet, with nary a hint of age. It's definitely a product of a riper vintage with sweet yellow fruit, but there is so much electricity and exuberance in this magnum. Chewy minerality on the back end. This is the sort of showing that reminds me why I love Dönnhoff so much.
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12/27/2021 - Caruso Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep golden, but without any orange or amber tint. This is fully mature of course. Nose of apricots, peaches, flint, citrus. On the palate still quite sweet, but nicely balanced by refreshing acidity. 5/12/18/8. -2025
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10/24/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Nose: This was pretty open and giving from the get go with deep tones of honey, red apples, quince, nectarine, peaches, cherries, pears, yellow flowers, and melon rinds.
Taste: The feel is light bodied with crisp, high acidity. There is some weight to the feel due to the age and sugar, but it is deft and silky with deep tones of red apples, quince, nectarines, peaches, honey, yellow flowers, and melon rinds.
Overall: This poured a golden color and showed off a good amount of maturity. This was wonderful right away and kept growing in the glass. This is at full maturity and will last a while longer.
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7/28/2020 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light to medium gold. Nose gives away brown sugar covered pineapple and ripe peach. I can get a faint aroma of petrol. I expected more bracing acidity, and it's nothing close to flabby but it is pretty mellow on this component. Palate is orchard-fruit dominant - Soft yellow apple, dried apricot. This is a well-balanced wine overall, but unfortunately, this particular bottle is not reflective of the high scores on CT.
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5/21/2020 - Ebrim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Short note - second day after opened.
This is stunning now. Ripe peach, apricot, mandarin, orange, nectar, very clean, high acidity, floral note, lilac, more body today than day 1. Very well balanced, long finish, intense acidity, deep complexity, high concentration, outstanding. 93p+
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8/24/2019 - berlinhotel Likes this wine: 92 Points
should improve further
92+
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8/23/2019 - Achermann Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine performed so well that I almost forgot to take notes. Quite yellow in the glass. A small hint of petrol and smoke on the nose but not that much, actually. Tropical fruit, white flowers, wet rocks, black tea, and mint - mix these things and add ice cubes. On the palate, it has acidity like an orange, white grape, or pineapple. So well balanced, great minerality, and a long, long finish. The best from Dönnhoff for me so far even though it's still quite primary. Yummy!
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7/27/2019 - CADomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
My experience was very much in line with MFW. Rich and creamy. I would have thought this was an Auslese, if I didn't know better. Seemed to get lighter with air though. Candied fruit, touch of spice, and despite it's ripe character - well balanced.
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6/15/2019 - salil wrote: 95 Points
Much better showing than my last one a few months ago. This is a fireworks display. Such an amazing array of bright fruit, florality, minerality, and light smoky development all coming together seamlessly; intensely flavoured but so gentle and airy on the palate. Absolutely spectacular with the foie gras bibimbap at S.K.Y.
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5/14/2019 - MartyL wrote: 94 Points
Seems ageless.
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4/12/2019 - Ebrim Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine is clear, pale intense golden core with a watery rim, developing
Nose is clean, medium+ intense aromas of nectar, tropical fruit, petrol, stonefruit, deep complexity
Palate is medium sweet, high acidity, low alcohol, medium+ body and flavour intensity with aromas of peach, tropical fruit, nectar, complex, long finish.
Very well balanced, long finish, intense aromas and high concentration and deep complexity. Outstanding quality, 93p+
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7/27/2018 - salil wrote: 93 Points
At Adrian's Hermannshoehle tasting. Loved this, only second to the '04 in the lineup for me. Another fantastic showing, though still showing a bit more primary and youthful than I'd like - there's a lot more richness and density here compared to the '04; it's remarkably elegant and light on the palate, but the primary fruit still dominates this and I'll give my last bottle a few more years.
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7/27/2018 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese mini vertical (Chicago, IL): #10-06, 8.5% abv. While this is quite different than the 2004 in shape, there are still clear elements that the two wines have in common. The stone fruit, again think white peaches and white cherries, are riper and sweeter, and there's just a very slight hint of sweet florals on the nose as well. The palate here is broader and riper, but this wine still has that same lightness and airiness that the more elegant 2004 had. It's a wine that seems to float (the classic Theise "ethereality") but you have to wonder how, given all the stuffing it has.
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6/26/2018 - kevin h wrote: 92 Points
Yellow gold colour. Classic lemon and tropical fruit nose. Full spotless body, medium sweetness. Fine acidity. Rounded full and fine citrus and apple flavours. Ready now will still improve a bit.
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12/16/2017 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Intense and vibrant lemon yellow colour with green reflections; the nose is quite discreet but complex (flowers, wax, almonds, toffee, cream, citrus fruit), fresh and deep; the palate is rich and sweet for a Nahe Spätlese, with a creamy texture, but the power is balanced with ease by tingling acidity; on the finish the hidden minerality raises its head above the parapet, and resonance and length are excellent. At this stage it is very attractive, but in reality it needs another 3-5 years to fully integrate the residual sugar. Next bottle in 2020/22. After two days in the fridge it has improved markedly; there is more precision and finesse, and aromas of mint, blackcurrant and peach are developing. This will be an outstanding Spätlese, but it needs still more time.
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7/28/2017 - ilcalmo wrote: 91 Points
Very good already, but promising enough that I'm holding my remaining two for a least a few more years. The sweetness is well-balanced with the lovely fruit, singing acidity and minerality, and small floral and petrol notes. This is a very complete package that should only get better with time.
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10/28/2016 - Rieslingfan wrote:
From magnum, and this is positively singing. Richly fruity, enough baby fat melted away that there is more spine showing, and the wine has an endless finish of peaches, cherry, warm apple and almost crunchy minerality. So often with delicious wines I am enthralled for 3 or 4 sips then the effect wears off. That did not happen here, as every sip, every pour (and I had 3!) sustained the interest and maintained the fascinating interplay of fruit and minerals. We had opened the 2005 Hermannshohle Grosses Gewachs earlier, which was also in the prime of life, and these was a family resemblance at the core. The GG was more the elegant, reserved twin, while the Spätlese was all exuberance. Among out group we had 6 different Rieslings, all of which showed well, but the magnum was the first and only one drained.
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10/21/2016 - EstimatedEyes Likes this wine:
I have been experimenting with expanding my tastes from Trockens, Kabs and GGs and recently acquired a handful of older Spats and Ausleses to help that along. PnP'd this based on recent reviews that suggest its in a good place now.
The nose on open was wonderful, both floral and fruit and a lot of depth. A swirl in the glass brought out a whiff of petrol. The wine was full-bodied and definitely sweet, with prominent honey at the front end, fading on the finish. The acidity was not noticeable at all, but the overall balance told me its there.
I can't say this wine blew me away, but we definitely enjoyed it. I'd probably rate it a solid 91-92, but that would be based on my overall palate, not v other spats. At this point in my education its kind of like a classical concerto: you can appreciate the artistry and accomplishment and at times you find a thread that carries you away, but you lack the experience to appreciate the nuance or tell whether this performance is transcendent or merely very good. But it keeps you coming back.
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9/4/2016 - winepog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Juicy stone fruit, gripping acidity, nice length, also tastes of grapes, butterscotch and a tiny touch of petrol. Fresh and delicious, one gets a sense that this will be also be great in ten years or in twenty years.
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8/22/2016 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Oentrians German Rieslings @ Restaurant Michael. Very pretty wine. Shows fresh enticing peach and apple aromas and nice clean rich tropical stony fruit flavors with good density and refreshing lift. Good underlying sweetness, but nothing cloying or heavy. In a good place. Came in 2nd place to a von simmon, but beat out some strong competition in JJ Prum, Dr. Fischer OB, Thanish BD, F. Haag Brauneberger.
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10/8/2015 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic Spätlese. This is in a great place right now. The complexity is amazing - an array of fruit ranging from fresh citrus and apples to riper cherry and tropical fruits, a stony mineral character beneath, and other floral, faintly honeyed, and more savoury developed smoky notes all coming together seamlessly. A really graceful, light palate presence with good acidity balancing the sweetness, and great length. Certainly has the stuffing and balance to age longer, but it's drinking so well now I wonder why I should wait...
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4/15/2015 - pifcho Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bit closed and clumsy on the first night, but drinks beautifully the next day - white cherries and peaches on the palate. Elegant and focused. Still mostly primary. Would wait a few years before I open my next bottle.
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4/4/2015 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Beautiful Spatlese in the prime of its life. Unlike many 2005s that are very rich, this is more restrained, and so is a better partner for food right now. The fruit is still very present, focusing on peachy and tropical flavors. Where this wine shines is on the finish that carries on forever. It's an elegant, haunting presence, that carries the fruit and a salty, mineral essence. This is fabulous to drink now, and should carry on for a very long time.
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5/8/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A stunning nose. A stunning palate. Could it get any better.
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3/17/2014 - dansamsoe Likes this wine:
yes this is delicious. A lot of sweet fruit. Good and balanced with acidity. If you like spätlese this is a very good example with some bottle age.
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12/28/2013 - bhouk wrote:
Greenish yellow color, nose has a hint of kerosene. Pure, finely etched pit fruit flavors, youthful, but just beginning to gain a little creaminess. Great lift complements great ripeness. This is the essence of spatlese Riesling and a perfect pairing with a sweet, salty ham.
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9/8/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Dinner with Friends (SHS, Cos, Donnhoff, RM, +++) (Our home): Wow, this was really rocking. Golden in color. The nose is clean and youthful. Wet rocks and some pineapple. Great lush texture. On the palate, slightly sweet with nice acidity. Just love the texture. Long, mineral driven finish. Lovely wine that went down fast and easy.
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1/23/2013 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pale yellow. Nose a floral bouquet with lemon and orange thrown in. Taste was smooth, brightness with an acid presence but no overpowering. Absolutely wonderful.
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5/27/2012 - vintage61 wrote: 94 Points
Shared with Starla at my home. Outstanding. Could use a few more years but ear perfection right now.
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3/3/2012 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
The dutchman turns 30; 3/2/2012-3/3/2012 (Chicago IL): nose: beautiful and lush nose filled with tones of green apples, loads of orchard fruits, pears, cherries, tropical fruits, peaches and a nice mineral undercurrent. Very layered with real good density on the nose right now, but holding back every so slightly.
taste: medium bodied with good weight to it. There is noticeable medium+ acidity that isn't too overbearing along with deft tones of green apples, cherries, pears, orchard fruits and mineral tones.
overall: this did need some air to fully get going. It probably could've used a decant as well. Still, a delicious donnhoff that started showing great once it got going.
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10/23/2011 - 14frimaire wrote:
From magnum: lovely. Incredible purity, bright tropical fruits: pineapple, mango, with some hints of red fruit as well. Not the most complex wine, but the attack is really beautiful.
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2/13/2011 - bigwineguy420 wrote: 91 Points
@ Terroir TriBeCa La Paulee pre-party From Magnum. Wow. Frightfully young. Bright & lively notes of peaches and pits. Zippy acidity, nice weight on the palate, a bit short on the finish. I really thought that this was a 2009 as it was so closed but reviewing my label picture I realize it is the 2005! Sleep, my darling. See you in 2020.
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2/11/2011 - ews3 wrote: 95 Points
delicious. peach, red apple. juice like -- i could seriously chug this all day -- but not simple, with some spice and fine stone (pebble?) notes. medium(+) acid adds bite and leads into a long finish.
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10/28/2009 - Rupert wrote: 91 Points
Hard to describe, beyond its balance and "rightness" - the usual donnhoff qualities of purity, honey, limpidity, fresh and saline and, actually, today not that expressive - but the class is obvious
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4/26/2009 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Thai and Riesling Event (Ching Mai Thai): Very elegant Spat with soft, apple flavors and aromas. Plush, yet precise.
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1/11/2008 - salil wrote: 95 Points
Drank this over two hours and it was truly breathtaking. The nose was slightly restrained, showing elegant flavours of flowers, apple, peach and yellow fruits over minerals. On the palate it's full bodied with very clean, pure flavours of peach, apple, orange, citrus and red fruits with salty mineral notes. Very precise, seamless and balanced - this has plenty of acidity underneath all the fruit with a silky, almost glossy texture in the mouth and an incredibly long finish. Wow.
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7/13/2007 - Will wrote:
This producer never disappoints and this wine in particular is really exceptional. It's been a while since I had a riesling that was that good. It was less sweet than I expected and that was definitely a good thing. Tons of acidity here, this wine is certainly built for the long run but is already amazingly good now. This level of quality for a mere 25 euros is just incredible. If you've had a wine from this producer before, you know what I mean, and if you haven't, you should run and try some. Enough said.
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4/10/2007 - marka wrote: 95 Points
I don't have the experience, and particularly with Riesling, to do justice in a TN to this wine. The color was pale yellow; nose was citrus, some floral?,some peach, apple, other great fruit and all of this was on the palate minus the floral. The finish was wonderful and when I think of the wine I can taste it.
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2/27/2007 - Rieslingfan wrote:
My first chance to really sit and drink this wine (as opposed to tasting). Utterly beguiling sums it up well. The aromas combine ripe fruit and a salty mineral element. The flavors are a wash of sweet fruit (peach, pineapple, apple, raspberry, cherry, etc.) with perfectly balanced acids to finish dry and clean. Intensity allied to elegance. Typically amazing Donnhoff wine. It has reached the point where it is hard to be impressed. Every year it's the same thing: perfection.
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2/20/2007 - dtisch wrote: 96 Points
Supeb wine. Extremely well balanced and smooth. Double decanted and rebottled 5 hours prior to drinking. Mellow and expressive nose of white fruit, white peach, hint of tangerine. On the palate, mellow attack. Smooth. Mid-palate very complex and balanced. Kalidescope of mellow white peach, mellow tropical fruit...belize papaya, pineapple dances on the tongue. Shimmers on the tongue with citrus tartness. Rich and dense. Acids in the background. Extremely well structured. Sugar level appears to fade into a very long finish. Cannot wait to see how this evolves. Ive heard that over time the baby fat will fade and the acids will take move toward the fore. Look forward to experiencing that.
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2/19/2007 - Jeff W wrote:
MSR offline St John 16.2.2007
Intense ripe fruit and acidity. Did I say intense? Beautiful balance. Precise but very primary. Soft and lingering finish. dg+
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12/30/2006 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Eve of the Eve Vinci Dinner (Chicago, IL): Out of magnum. Hugely aromatic nose of apples, pears along with tropical notes. Totally primary palate with ripe, pure and bright fruit profile. Steely minerality and smoke. Acidic structure goes unnoticed but must be behind the seamless, balanced and lengthy profile. A pleasure bomb today --- but one should really bury these in the cellar as it only shows a fraction of what it will ultimately acheive.
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12/5/2006 - Brnshj22 wrote: 97 Points
Best Riesling I've ever had. Clean, precise, overwhelming, splendid minerality and perfect match between sweetness and acidity. Buy it if you can find it!
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8/14/2006 - gorm wrote: 96 Points
Grapefruit and loads of minerals on the nose. Extremely terroir-driven wine. Grips you and holds you in a tight grip. Rocks, quartz, salt and chalk interwoven with loads of fruit. Simply stunning! If the Fritz Haag Auslese was the velvet glove, then this is the iron fist. Rating: 96
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