Only been twelve years since I last tried this. Seems prudent to check in. Glad I did, as it’s in a nice place - fully mature, but in no danger of going around the bend. It actually improved quite a lot over the three hours it was open. I might even decant my next bottle. Certainly not for acid freaks, it was more about serenity and depth of flavor. Interestingly the color became lighter the longer it was open, and towards the end it showed a bit more spark. Still pretty typical for the 1999 vintage, which outside of the Saar gave broader wines than typical for German Riesling.
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Wow. Just wow. Deep yellow colored with a nose of yellow fruits (pear, peach, yellow apple). The nose is OMFG intoxicating...as in "why don't they make an Eau de Toilette of this so I can bathe in it every morning?" I could sniff this all evening...and I darn near did. The flavors on the palate followed the nose, with a beautiful balance of sweetness and acid, appropriate for the pradikat. Superior concentration while still light on the palate. It could perhaps use a touch more acid, but that would be a quibble. This is everything that I want in an aged Spätlese and then some. Near perfect.
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This was a very pleasant bottle but I expect more from Dönnhoff. There was peachy white fruit, attractive herbal and spicy notes, minerals and touches of the usual hydrocarbons, which were all good. However, there was less acidity and backbone than I like in Riesling which made the wine subjectively quite sweet and therefore a difficult pairing.
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Peach, pear, developed smoky and creamy flavours, and sweeter honeyed elements all coming together seamlessly on the nose and palate. There's plenty of development to the flavours but still great freshness to the fruit, and it's at that point where everything's coming together into a whole that's greater than the sum of all parts. Fantastic.
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Straw yellow color. Medium intensity aroma, of lemon, kerosene, pear and geraniums. On arrival, an acidic lift helps propel this wine into a balanced, moderately intense experience. Some warmth suggesting smoke of a wood fire. Complex, mid-life, neither fully developed not primarily fruit-driven. Medium finish. Bottle #5 of six.
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5/5/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Only been twelve years since I last tried this. Seems prudent to check in. Glad I did, as it’s in a nice place - fully mature, but in no danger of going around the bend. It actually improved quite a lot over the three hours it was open. I might even decant my next bottle. Certainly not for acid freaks, it was more about serenity and depth of flavor. Interestingly the color became lighter the longer it was open, and towards the end it showed a bit more spark. Still pretty typical for the 1999 vintage, which outside of the Saar gave broader wines than typical for German Riesling.
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8/24/2017 - CMN wrote: 96 Points
Wow. Just wow. Deep yellow colored with a nose of yellow fruits (pear, peach, yellow apple). The nose is OMFG intoxicating...as in "why don't they make an Eau de Toilette of this so I can bathe in it every morning?" I could sniff this all evening...and I darn near did. The flavors on the palate followed the nose, with a beautiful balance of sweetness and acid, appropriate for the pradikat. Superior concentration while still light on the palate. It could perhaps use a touch more acid, but that would be a quibble. This is everything that I want in an aged Spätlese and then some. Near perfect.
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7/7/2014 - eboracum wrote: 88 Points
This was a very pleasant bottle but I expect more from Dönnhoff. There was peachy white fruit, attractive herbal and spicy notes, minerals and touches of the usual hydrocarbons, which were all good. However, there was less acidity and backbone than I like in Riesling which made the wine subjectively quite sweet and therefore a difficult pairing.
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3/4/2014 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Peach, pear, developed smoky and creamy flavours, and sweeter honeyed elements all coming together seamlessly on the nose and palate. There's plenty of development to the flavours but still great freshness to the fruit, and it's at that point where everything's coming together into a whole that's greater than the sum of all parts. Fantastic.
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1/16/2014 - Hodby wrote: 87 Points
Straw yellow color. Medium intensity aroma, of lemon, kerosene, pear and geraniums. On arrival, an acidic lift helps propel this wine into a balanced, moderately intense experience. Some warmth suggesting smoke of a wood fire. Complex, mid-life, neither fully developed not primarily fruit-driven. Medium finish. Bottle #5 of six.
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