First of all, please see the photo I uploaded to CellarTracker. This wine is not a “Goldkapsel” bottling. I purchased this on release through the Skurnik DI offering, and it has a white capsule. That’s because prior to 2006* the Dönnhoff Auslesen not from Brücke and Hermannshöhle had white capsules. Anyway, the wine is in perfect form now, almost 20 years from the vintage. Lightly honeyed, and still in full possession of fresh, peachy fruit, it’s moderate in density, and full in flavor. It’s a “normal” Auslese, rather than a super-sized BA in Auslese labeling. Given the amount of fruit there is still a long time to go, but I like the balance now.
* excepting some later-released bottles that received the gold capsule that became standard in 2006
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Half bottle. Stone and tropical fruit aromas. Palate is still plenty sweet as this has a dessert wine profile for my palate. Good spice and balancing acidity. On point with summer peach pie and ice cream.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Golden colour. Very tropical with a good whiff of pineapple on the nose. On the palate, this is quite juicy. A tad light on the acidity makes this feel somewhat diffuse.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale color - flowers, peaches and citrus on the nose. There's some red fruit that kicks in on the palate, with an incredibly precise and focused profile. Some honeyed elements come through on the finish, but overall this is a very delicate auslese that is just barely emerging from its shell. I will wait several more years on any of my remaining bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
#15-05. Mouldy cork. Effervescence seems to indicate a bit of secondary fermentation. On the palate, there's good balance between sweetness and acidity. Some vague stone fruit aromas, but this is not the most complex of Doennhoff wines. Nonetheless, refreshingly mineral and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous layers of apples, slate, and quince, with bright balancing acidity and waves of minerality. Impeccably balanced, deep, rich, and complex, this is already elegant even though its full personality is still hidden. Classic Dönnhoff texture -- shimmery and silky and beautiful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Donnhoffs on a Sunday afternoon (Chicago, IL): An elegant, slightly restrained nose shows lime, apples, flowers, minerals and some tropical fruit. Much more expressive on the palate with sweet peach, limes, red berries and tropical fruits over honey and smoky notes. Elegant and perfectly balanced with good acidity and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Sunday with Donnhoff and Vietnamese Food (Tank Noodles - Chicago, IL): Shy nose has minerals, lime, petrol and candied apples. Palate is full with rich, sweet white fruits. Acidic edge provides balance and lift. Smoky minerals fill the finish. Though this showed well --- it seems tight and in need of more time to open and develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somewhat of a disappointment, having tried it before, during and after the meal. There are nice floral and fruit elements, with the sweetness balanced by a moderate dose of acidity. Still, it comes off to me as a little too sweet and round, would like to have seen a little more bite at the finish. Perhaps this is more of sipper and was poorly matched with all the holiday fare around. Would not go for this again at the prices being asked. 5+10+14+7=86
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/21/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
First of all, please see the photo I uploaded to CellarTracker. This wine is not a “Goldkapsel” bottling. I purchased this on release through the Skurnik DI offering, and it has a white capsule. That’s because prior to 2006* the Dönnhoff Auslesen not from Brücke and Hermannshöhle had white capsules. Anyway, the wine is in perfect form now, almost 20 years from the vintage. Lightly honeyed, and still in full possession of fresh, peachy fruit, it’s moderate in density, and full in flavor. It’s a “normal” Auslese, rather than a super-sized BA in Auslese labeling. Given the amount of fruit there is still a long time to go, but I like the balance now.
* excepting some later-released bottles that received the gold capsule that became standard in 2006
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2021 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Half bottle. Stone and tropical fruit aromas. Palate is still plenty sweet as this has a dessert wine profile for my palate. Good spice and balancing acidity. On point with summer peach pie and ice cream.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2019 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 90 Points
Golden in colour showing maturity. Nutty, petroleum, honeysuckle. Very pleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2014 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Lots of tropical fruits; lychee, peach, mango....Very nice acidity and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2013 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Golden colour. Very tropical with a good whiff of pineapple on the nose. On the palate, this is quite juicy. A tad light on the acidity makes this feel somewhat diffuse.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2012 - Rieslingfan wrote: 89 Points
Pale color - flowers, peaches and citrus on the nose. There's some red fruit that kicks in on the palate, with an incredibly precise and focused profile. Some honeyed elements come through on the finish, but overall this is a very delicate auslese that is just barely emerging from its shell. I will wait several more years on any of my remaining bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2012 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
#15-05. Mouldy cork. Effervescence seems to indicate a bit of secondary fermentation. On the palate, there's good balance between sweetness and acidity. Some vague stone fruit aromas, but this is not the most complex of Doennhoff wines. Nonetheless, refreshingly mineral and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2010 - Lorien wrote: 89 Points
nice. impressive acidity and good concentration. needs time to come around.. right now a little too straight forward
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2009 - Siggy wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous layers of apples, slate, and quince, with bright balancing acidity and waves of minerality. Impeccably balanced, deep, rich, and complex, this is already elegant even though its full personality is still hidden. Classic Dönnhoff texture -- shimmery and silky and beautiful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2007 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Donnhoffs on a Sunday afternoon (Chicago, IL): An elegant, slightly restrained nose shows lime, apples, flowers, minerals and some tropical fruit. Much more expressive on the palate with sweet peach, limes, red berries and tropical fruits over honey and smoky notes. Elegant and perfectly balanced with good acidity and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2007 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
A Sunday with Donnhoff and Vietnamese Food (Tank Noodles - Chicago, IL): Shy nose has minerals, lime, petrol and candied apples. Palate is full with rich, sweet white fruits. Acidic edge provides balance and lift. Smoky minerals fill the finish. Though this showed well --- it seems tight and in need of more time to open and develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2006 - ths wrote: 86 Points
Somewhat of a disappointment, having tried it before, during and after the meal. There are nice floral and fruit elements, with the sweetness balanced by a moderate dose of acidity. Still, it comes off to me as a little too sweet and round, would like to have seen a little more bite at the finish. Perhaps this is more of sipper and was poorly matched with all the holiday fare around. Would not go for this again at the prices being asked. 5+10+14+7=86
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment